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HISTORY 


ADELPHI  ACADEMY 


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SEYMOUR    DURST 


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'Because  ii  has  heen  said 
"Ever'thing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  hook." 


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^DELPHI  ^CADEMY  ' 

COMPILED    BY 

Qhaf^LotteMorjiiLL 


PUBLISHED  BY 

Associate    (^lumn/^ 


OF 


(^DELPHI  ^CADEMY 


EJUS 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/historyofadelphiOOmorr 


In  grateful  recognition  of  the  inestimable 
service  which  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
Adelphi  Academy  have  rendered  to  their 
Alma  Mater  by  their  love,  loyalty  and 
high  standing  in  the  community. 


y 


TO  THE  ASSOCIATE  ALUMNAE 

The  morning  of  May  twenty-ninth, 
nineteen  hundred  and  seven,  was  like  hun- 
dreds of  other  mornings  in  the  Adelphi 
horizon,  but  with  the  setting  sun  a  new 
hght  came  in.  The  State  of  Xew  York 
had  set  its  seal  upon  the  charter  of  your 
society,  which  has  been  most  helpful  and 
has  placed  the  Adelphi  under  a  deep  debt 
of  gratitude.  Xames  of  its  members  fig- 
ure in  the  columns  of  society  news.  They 
appear  on  Boards  of  Managers  of  many 
Benevolent  Associations.  They  are 
known,  loved  and  honored  over  this 
goodly  city. 


FOREWORD 

"If  we  could  only  get  rid  of  Time  and  Space  we 
could  be  perfectly  happy.  It  takes  such  a  lot  of 
trouble  to  save  time  and  such  a  lot  of  time  to  get 
over  space  that  life  is  too  short  for  our  little  hu- 
manities." 

This  comes  home  to  me  as  I  look  over  the  list 
of  classes.  Until  the  erection  of  the  Clifton  Place 
Building,  which  removed  the  older  pupils  from  my 
vicinity,  I  knew  all  the  members  of  the  Graduat- 
ing Classes.  Even  now  the  name  of  every  grad- 
uate is  familiar  to  me.  I  mourn  with  those  who 
mourn  and  rejoice  with  those  who  rejoice.  It 
would  be  pleasant  to  speak  of  every  class,  but 
Time  and  Space  forbid. 

May  I  hesitate  a  moment  over  the  record  of  1888 
to  which  was  recently  added  the  name  of  Judge 
Frederic  E.  Crane.  This  class  gave  us  the  Adel- 
phi  Colors. 

Freda  Brunn  secured  for  Laura  Winnington  and 
other  class  mates  memorials  to  be  placed  on  Adel- 
phi  walls.  A  few  years  later  Freda's  name  was 
written  in  bronze  here.  With  moistened  eyes,  I 
read  the  name  of  Martha  E.  Jansen,  who  though 
crippled  and  burdened  with  pain 

"Still  hears  in  her  soul  the  music 
Of  wonderful  melodies." 

Last  Spring  it  was  my  privilege  to  sit  at  table 

[61 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

at  Fraunces  Tavern  with  the  class  of  1890  and  to 
receive  as  did  the  other  guests  a  silver  loving  cup. 
It  was  hard  to  believe  that  twenty-five  years  had 
passed  since  the  "Fire  Class,"  which  we  recall  as 
bearing  bravely  and  patiently  the  unusual  discom- 
fort, had  gone  out  to  fight  the  battles  of  life  armed 
with  the  Adelphi  diploma. 

Forgiveness  would  be  impossible  if  I  failed  to 
mention  the  brother  society.  The  members  keep 
up  their  interest  in  Adelphi.  Forty-one  have  mar- 
ried Adelphi  girls.  Doubtless  in  time  to  come 
(may  it  be  long  delayed)  the  Adelphi  will  be  many 
times  over  Residuary  Legatee. 

Some  future  historian  of  Adelphi  may  be  able 
to  record  that  alumni  and  alumnae  sit  side  by  side 
in  Jury  boxes,  on  the  Judges'  bench,  in  congres- 
sional halls  and  in  pulpits. 

If  the  Peace  Commission  should  fail  of  ultimate 
success  and  our  arsenals  should  not  be  filled  with 
pruning  hooks  and  plowshares  they  may  respond 
together  to  the  call  to  arms. 

Today  we  find  our  Members  of  Congress,  our 
Clergy,  our  Doctors — save  one — our  Judges,  our 
Merchants  and  our  Public  Benefactors  are  all  from 
the  brother  society.  Their  records  are  excellent. 
Their  names  are  well  and  widely  known. 

The  yearly  plays  presented  by  your  society  have 
been  in  every  way  successful  and  are  counted 
among  prominent  social  events.    They  are  well  at- 

[6] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

tended  and  eagerly  anticipated.    "Lest  we  forget," 
here  is  the  list: 

1904— "Love's  Lottery" 

With  Madame  Schumann-Heink 
Montauk  Theatre 
1905— "The  Commuters" 

Majestic  Theatre 
1906— "Her  Great  Match" 

With  Maxine  Elliott 
Montauk  Theatre 
1907— "The  Lion  and  the  Mouse" 

Montauk  Theatre 
1908— "The  Wife" 

With  John  Drew  and  Billie  Burke 
Montauk  Theatre 
1909— "The  Man  from  Home" 
With  William  Hodge 
Astor  Theatre,  N.  Y. 
1910— "The  Isle  of  Geyouga" 

Home  Talent  at  Adelphi 
1911— "Sherlock  Holmes" 

With  William  Gillette 
Montauk  Theatre 
1912— "Single  Man" 

With  John  Drew 
Montauk  Theatre 
1913— "The  Perplexed  Husband" 
With  John  Drew 
Montauk  Theatre 
1914— "The  New  Henrietta" 

With  William  Crane  and  Douglas  Fairbanks. 
Montauk  Theatre 
1915— "He  Comes  Up  Smiling" 

With  Douglas  Fairbanks 
Montauk  Theatre 

[7] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

There  lies  open  before  me  a  bound  volume  of 
the  Adelphi  Record,  a  monthly  publication  be- 
ginning in  December,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty- 
four,  and  continuing  three  years. 

The  Adelphian  entered  the  magazine  field  No- 
vember, eighteen  hundred  and  seventy,  and  is  still 
published  regularly.  We  believe  that  we  feel  a 
justifiable  pride  in  it  and  know  that  it  holds  high 
rank  among  school  periodicals. 

The  Adelphic,  a  yearly  publication,  made  its 
first  appearance  in  eighteen  hundred  and  eighty- 
eight.  If  any  Adelphi  graduate  has  failed  to  see 
a  copy  a  great  opportunity  has  been  lost.  Rectify 
the  mistake  at  once  and  you  will  be  thankful  for 
the  suggestion. 

I  submit  to  your  charity  whether  the  accompany- 
ing History  should  be  summed  up  among  the  lit- 
erary productions  of  Adelphi.  Agnes  Repplier 
says  that  "History  is  and  always  has  been  hamp- 
ered by  facts."  The  Adelphi  History,  though  pre- 
pared with  great  labor,  has  fallen  far  below  my 
ideals  and  disappointed  my  hopes.  The  courtesy 
and  generosity  of  your  society  which  have  made 
its  publication  possible  will  be  recalled  with  ever 
increasing  thankfulness  while  memory  lasts. 

Your  numbers  increase  year  by  year,  but  we 
cannot  forget  that  there  is  hardly  a  year  in  which 
some  beloved  name  is  not  taken  from  the  roll.  To- 
day we  miss  from  the  record  of  graduates  the 
names  of  50  boys  and  30  girls.    To  their  scattered 

[8] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

graves  we  offer  the  flowers  of  affectionate  remem- 
brance. 

Upon  the  strong  young  shoulders  of  her  sons 
and  daughters  rests  in  great  measure  the  future 
of  Adelphi.  I  beseech  you  to  "Take  up  the  burden 
cheerfully.  Bear  it  on  bravely.  Lay  it  down  tri- 
umphantly." With  an  affection  which  increases 
as  the  years  roll  by, 
I  am, 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

Chaelotte  Morrill. 


19] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  ADELPHI  ACADEMY 
DURING  THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF 
JOHN    LOCKWOOD,   M.A.,    1869-1870 


THE    ADMINISTRATION    OF    JOHN 
LOCKWOOD,  M.A.,  1869-1870 

^^^-^HE  true  history  of  a  school  is  written  only 
■  ^  J  on  hearts  and  minds.  It  may  be  handed 
^^i^  from  one  generation  to  another,  as  were  the 
old  legends.  Figures  tell  so  little  and  tell  it  so 
imperfectly  that  the  writing  of  history  seems  well- 
nigh  hopeless.  The  Adelphi  Academy,  with  its 
army  of  graduates,  has  items  of  interest  which  it 
must  not  let  fade.  With  the  Aimerican  love  for 
celebrating  anniversaries,  she  could  not  pass  the 
half -century  mark  without  recording,  however  im- 
perfectly, some  history  of  her  people  and  her  suc- 
cess. 

The  thought  of  the  school  came  first  to  Dr. 
Bunker  and  Aaron  Chadwick,  but  they  consigned 
the  infant  plant  to  the  care  of  John  Lockwood. 

The  school  opened  with  one  pupil,  September  7, 
1863.  Soon  there  were  eleven,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  year  twenty-eight. 

Keenly  atave  to  the  dignity  and  responsibility  of 
the  teacher's  calling,  willing  to  spend  and  be  spent 
for  his  pupils,  Mr.  Lockwood  put  emphasis  equally 
on  moral  and  mental  culture.  There  were  no  high 
schools  in  Brooklyn  and  the  fields  were  white  to 
the  harvest. 

Despite  his  Quaker  principles,  Mr.  Lockwood 
volunteered  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  War,  joining 
the  Twenty-third  Brooklyn  Regiment  to  oppose 

[13] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

General  Lee  in  the  disastrous  invasion  of  Penn- 
sylvania. After  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg  Mr. 
Lockwood  returned,  having  been  in  the  field  thirty 
days. 

Mr.  Lockwood  was  graduated  from  Columbia  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one,  having  taken  a  prize  at 
every  mathematical  examination  during  the  four 
years.  He  was  elected  poet  of  the  Alumni  Asso- 
ciation. 

For  three  years  after  the  completion  of  his  col- 
lege course  he  engaged  in  study  and  literary  work. 
For  several  years  he  taught  in  public  and  private 
schools  near  New  York.  He  succeeded  James 
Parton  as  associate  editor  of  Morris  and  Willis's 
Home  Journal,  but  did  not  find  the  work  conge- 
nial. Quite  early  his  proficiency  in  Astronomy 
attracted  the  attention  of  Dr.  Hackley  of  Colum- 
bia, who  introduced  him  to  Charles  A.  Dana,  then 
Managing  Editor  of  the  New  York  Tribune,  Mr. 
Lockwood's  article  on  the  Comet  which  had  just 
begun  to  blaze  its  way  was  followed  with  a  long 
series  of  astronomical  articles  which  graced  the  col- 
umns of  the  Tribune  from  week  to  week.  They 
were  so  appreciated  that  he  was  invited  to  suc- 
ceed Dr.  Thomas  Hill,  President  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, who  retired  from  the  position  of  preparing 
the  astronomical  articles  for  the  American  Cyclo- 
pedia. The  work  was  so  well  done  that  when  the 
new  edition  was  projected  some  years  after,  Mr. 
Dana  invited  Mr.  Lockwood  to  take  charge  of  the 

[U] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Department  of  Astronomy.  When  the  honor  was 
declined,  it  fell  to  the  famous  astronomical  writer, 
Richard  A.  Proctor. 

Mr.  Lockwood  was  eminently  fitted  for  the  voca- 
tion of  teaching,  for  added  to  his  varied  scholarship 
were  a  happy  faculty  of  imparting  knowledge  and 
a  nature  in  sympathy  with  young  people.  So 
highly  did  he  value  truth  that  he  was  solicitous 
to  banish  fear — the  active  principle  of  falsehood — 
from  the  heart.  Under  his  administration,  an  of- 
fender was  never  punished  on  his  own  confession 
or  on  the  tattling  report  of  a  schoolmate.  In  his 
scheme  of  education,  character  was  the  thing  placed 
above  everything  else.  This  was  the  rock  on  which 
he  built  and  the  great  secret  of  his  success  as  a 
teacher. 

A  prominent  Brooklyn  woman  who  had  five 
sons,  three  of  whom  were  ready  for  school,  hap- 
pened to  pass  Mr.  Lockwood's  school  and  saw  him 
playing  ball  with  his  pupils.  The  appearance  of 
the  man  and  his  manifest  interest  in  the  boys  se- 
cured him  the  five  names  for  his  roll-book. 

Mr.  Lockwood  opened  his  school  in  what  is  now 
412  Adelphi  Street.  Soon  he  annexed  414  and 
subsequently  bought  a  little  chapel  which  an  eccen- 
tric Englishman  had  built  for  himself  and  family. 
The  site  is  now  occupied  by  an  apartment  house. 
Mr.  Truman  J.  Ellinwood,  a  graduate  of  Dr.  Dio 
Lewis's  Normal  School  of  Physical  Culture  in  Bos- 
ton, became  a  permanent  instructor  in  the  Adelphi, 

[15] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

introducing  Dio  Lewis's  Calisthenic  Drill.  The 
school  grew  rapidly  and  more  spacious  accommo- 
dations became  necessary.  To  a  considerable  ex- 
tent the  funds  for  this  enlargement  and  equipment 
in  Adelphi  Street  were  furnished  by  Mr.  Ellin- 
wood.  A  school  paper  known  as  The  Academy 
Record,  published  in  Brooklyn  quarterly  and  some- 
times monthly,  repeatedly  recognized  his  depart- 
ment as  of  great  importance,  giving  to  the  institu- 
tion a  unique  reputation.  For  physical  culture  it 
soon  came  to  be  regarded  as  unequalled  by  any 
similar  school  in  Brooklyn  or  New  York  or  per- 
haps in  the  nation. 

It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  in  almost  all 
schools,  public  and  private,  proper  physical  train- 
ing during  that  early  period  was  sadly  neglected. 
Dr.  Lewis's  system  was  a  revelation  of  possibilities 
in  this  line.  It  included  many  progressive  exer- 
cises with  light  dumb-bells,  rings,  wands,  Indian 
clubs,  etc.,  besides  free  gymnastics,  with  careful 
and  persistent  training  to  eliminate  awkwardness, 
cure  defects,  ensure  right  posture,  graceful  car- 
riage, correct  walking  and  marching,  and  unexcep- 
tionable deportment. 

It  was  not  long  before  an  earnest  desire  was 
widely  expressed  for  the  admission  of  girls.  Many 
of  these  were  in  private  classes  under  Mr.  Ellin- 
wood's  instruction.  The  Principals,  Lockwood  and 
Ellinwood,  were  predisposed  to  permit  this,  and 
they  received  them  on  equal  terms  with  the  boys. 

[16  1 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Messrs.  Lockwood  and  Ellinwood  desired  to 
erect  a  building  on  Lafayette  Avenue  near  Hall 
Street.  Like  most  school  men,  Mr.  Lockwood  was 
not  a  financier  and  the  burden  of  the  necessary  debt 
seemed  too  great  for  him.  The  school  was  gaining 
rapidly  and  the  citizens  of  Brooklyn  showed  their 
appreciation  by  rallying  to  their  support. 

In  a  pamphlet  entitled,  "Proceedings  of  a  Meet- 
ing to  Take  Steps  Toward  the  Erection  of  a  New 
Building  for  the  Adelphi  Academy,"  I  read: 

"Brooklyn,  May  8,  1867. 

Sir:  You  are  invited  to  attend  a  meeting  of  friends 
of  the  Adelphi  Academy,  to  be  held  on  Saturday  evening, 
May  11th,  1867,  at  8  o'clock,  at  the  Academy  Calis- 
theneum,  Nos.  338  and  340  Adelphi  Street,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  taking  steps  toward  assisting  in  the  erection  of 
a  building  for  the  use  of  the  academic  department  of  the 
school,  and  to  consider  some  other  propositions  for  en- 
larging the  usefulness  and  giving  a  more  perfect  devel- 
opment to  the  plant  of  the  institution. 

Respectfully, 

Charles  Pratt,   Chnton  Ave.,  cor.  Willoughby. 
A.  S.  Barnes,  Clinton  Ave.,  cor.  Atlantic. 
J.  Mayer,  Cumberland  St.,  near  Willoughby  Ave. 
Samuel  Vernon,  201  Lafayette  Ave. 
Daniel  O.  Tatum,  290  Adelphi  St. 
H.  DoLLNER,  177  Washington  Ave. 
E.  G.  Webster,  Clinton  Ave.,  cor.  Greene. 
James  L.  Brumley,  319  Washington  Ave. 
Thomas  Vernon,  199  Lafayette  Ave. 
Joseph   Lee,    Cumberland    St.,   near   Willoughby 
Ave. 

[17] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Mr.  Harold  Dollner  was  called  to  the  chair,  and 
Mr.  Charles  Pratt  was  appointed  Secretary. 

Mr.  John  Lockwood,  being  called  upon,  made 
the  following  statement : 

The  Adelphi  Academy,  established  in  February, 
1863,  was  opened  in  September  of  the  same  year, 
under  the  new  management  of  John  Lockwood, 
with  11  pupils.  By  the  end  of  the  year,  this  number 
was  increased  to  23.  The  whole  number  for  the  fol- 
lowing year  was  61.  The  following  table  shows  the 
number  on  the  15th  day  of  each  month  of  the  cur- 
rent year,  beginning  with  September: 

Sept.      Oct.      Nov.      Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March     April 
150       199      214       219       223      239        245         248 

The  new  building  proposed  is  intended  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  Academic  Department 
alone.  The  present  quarters  being  then  devoted  to 
the  Preparatory  Department,  it  is  designed  to  in- 
clude therein  children  of  both  sexes,  varying  from 
five  to  about  twelve  years  of  age.  The  admission  of 
girls  will,  it  is  expected,  be  an  additional  cause  of 
increase  in  the  number  of  pupils. 

The  building  to  be  erected  is  designed  to  in- 
clude a  spacious  Calisthenic  Hall.  For  this  pur- 
pose twelve  lots  of  ground  have  been  secured,  on 
Lafayette  avenue.  Hall  street,  and  Van  Buren 
street,  costing  about  $14,500.  Such  a  building  as 
is  needed  for  immediate  use  could  be  put  up  for 
the  sum,  it  is  calculated,  of  $40,000;  making,  with 

[18] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

the,  price  of  the  land,  the  sum  of  $55,000  to  be 
raised. 

To  show  the  capacity  of  the  business  to  meet 
the  interest  on  such  loan,  as  well  as  the  principal  at 
maturity,  the  following  statement  is  made : 

The  present  attendance,  if  continued  next  year, 
without  an  increase  of  expenditures,  will  yield  a 
net  income  of  $9000,  exclusive  of  the  Principal's 
salary.  With  the  enlarged  accommodations  pro- 
posed, this  amount,  taking  as  a  basis  the  average 
rate  of  increase  of  previous  years,  it  may  not  be 
extravagant  to  assmne,  would  be  more  than 
doubled.  It  is  desirable  that  a  part  of  this,  as  in 
the  past,  should  be  applied  to  extending  and  de- 
veloping the  institution;  but  an  ample  sum  will  be 
left  for  interest,  and  a  liberal  sinking  fund  for  the 
principal,  while  all  improvements  will  add  to  the 
security  of  the  loan. 

After  a  free  expression  of  the  minds  of  the 
friends  present  as  to  the  best  method  of  accom- 
plishing the  object,  the  following  plan,  originally 
drawn  by  Mr.  Dollner,  was  unanimously  adopted. 

"  PLAN  OF  ORGANIZATION 

Brooklyn^  May  11,  1867. 

The  undersigned,  feeling  interested  in  the  prog- 
ress and  prosperity  of  the  ADELPHI  ACAD- 
EMY, owned  and  managed  by  Mr.  John  Lock- 
wood  and  Mr.  Truman  J.  EUinwood,  desire  that 

[19] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

enlarged  aecommodations  should  be  provided  for 
the  School,  especially  for  the  physical  develop- 
ment of  the  children  under  their  instruction.  It  is 
proposed  to  erect  a  suitable  building  on  the  land 
owned  by  Messrs.  Lockwood  and  Ellinwood,  on 
Lafayette  avenue,  Van  Buren  street,  and  Hall 
street,  containing  twelve  lots. 

These  lots  cost  about  fourteen  thousand  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  of  which  thirteen  thousand  are  on 
mortgage.  It  is  estimated  that  the  building,  with 
the  lots,  will  cost  about  fifty-five  thousand  dollars. 
Of  this  amount  twenty  thousand  can  be  raised  on 
first  mortgage. 

Messrs.  Lockwood  and  Ellinwood  having  no 
available  means,  we,  the  undersigned,  pledge  our- 
selves to  loan  them  the  amounts  placed  opposite  our 
signatures,  payable  to  the  Chairman  or  Treasurer 
of  a  Committee  of  five  of  our  number,  who,  in  con- 
nection with  Messrs.  Lockwood  and  Ellinwood,  will 
attend  to  the  speedy  erection  of  the  building,  with 
the  understanding  that  Messrs.  Lockwood  and 
Ellinwood  retain  sole  control  of  the  educational  de- 
partment of  the  School. 

To  secure  the  lenders  of  the  money,  Mr.  John 
Lockwood  and  Mr.  Truman  J.  Ellinwood  will 
execute  a  second  mortgage  in  favor  of  the  above- 
named  Chairman  or  Treasurer,  who  is  to  hold 
the  same  in  trust  for  the  lenders,  and  who  will  re- 
ceive from  Messrs.  Lockwood  and  Ellinwood  in- 
terest, at  the  rate  of  seven  per  cent  per  annum,  and 

[20] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

disburse  the  same  to  the  lenders  in  proportion  to 
the  different  amounts  loaned;  or,  it  may  be  op- 
tional with  the  lenders  and  Messrs.  Lockwood  and 
Ellinwood,  to  receive  credit  for  interest  due  on  their 
school  bills  while  any  of  the  lenders  continue  to 
have  children  at  the  Adelphi  Academy. 

But  it  is  agreed  upon  by  the  lenders,  that  no  part 
of  the  principal  of  amounts  loaned  shall  be  claimed 
before  the  lapse  of  five  years,  while  Messrs.  Lock- 
wood  and  Ellinwood  have  the  privilege  of  reducing 
their  indebtedness  earlier  if  their  circumstances  al- 
low it. 

Additional  insurance  against  fire,  over  and  above 
an  amount  sufficient  to  cover  the  first  mortgage,  is 
to  be  paid  by  Messrs.  Lockwood  and  Ellinwood,  for 
as  much  as  can  reasonably  be  insured. 

This  loan  is  to  be  placed  in  the  shape  of  bonds, 
according  to  the  amounts  of  subscription,  of  not 
less  than  one  hundred  dollars  each.  All  the  money 
is  to  be  paid  in  before  the  building  is  commenced; 
and,  unless  the  building  is  begun  within  six  months 
from  this  date,  this  subscription  shall  be  void." 

This  plan  met  with  unanimous  favor;  and  after 
an  animated  discussion  as  to  the  best  mode  of  carry- 
ing it  into  effect,  the  meeting  resolved  itself  into  a 
committee,  each  to  do  what  he  could  to  insure  the 
success  of  the  enterprise  and  report  to  Mr.  Thomas 
Vernon,  who  was  voted  chairman  of  the  committee. 

[21] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

At  the  meeting  June  4,  1867,  there  were  read 
characteristic  letters  from  Henry  Ward  Beecher 
and  Horace  Greeley,  the  latter  of  which  follows: 

"Office  of  the  Tribune, 
New  York,  June  2,  1867. 
Gentlemen  :    I   am  a  member-elect   of   the   Constitu- 
tional Convention,  and  must  not  neglect  the  duties  thus 
devolved  upon  me. 

That  Convention  meets  on  the  4th,  at  Albany,  and  I 
must  be  there;  so  I  cannot  be  with  you.  I  do,  however, 
most  heartily  approve  of  blending  systematic  physical 
with  mental  training,  and  on  that  ground  fervently  wish 
success   to   the  Adelphi   Academy. 

Yours, 

Horace  Greeley." 

Dr.  Budington  made  the  first  speech  of  the  even- 
ing. Dr.  Theodore  L.  Cuyler  followed  him.  He 
spoke  with  his  wonted  enthusiasm  of  the  calisthenic 
drills  and  of  the  special  fitness  of  Mr.  Lockwood. 

"A  man  is  not  worth  a  button  as  a  teacher  who 
would  not  rather  be  a  teacher  than  anything  else, 
unlike  the  down-Easter  who  had  not  made  up  his 
mind  whether  he  would  keep  school  or  drive  a  stage ! 
I  think  that  where  a  man  is  driven  to  teaching  to 
get  a  piece  of  bread  in  his  mouth  he  disgraces  rather 
than  dignifies  the  noble  vocation  of  teaching.  A 
man  must  love  to  teach,  or  he  will  not  make  the 
scholars  love  their  work.  And  I  think  these  friends 
of  ours  have  gone  into  their  school  with  a  love  of 
teaching.  They  love  their  school,  and  the  children 
love  it,  they  keep  up  their  fire  in  it,  and  give  zest 

[22] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

to  the  studies  and  operations  which  are  carried 
on  there." 

Mr.  Daniel  O.  Tatum  called  for  the  Treasurer's 
report,  which  was  made  by  Mr.  Thomas  Vernon,  as 
follows : 

'^Mr.  Chairman:  After  a  great  deal  of  talking 
and  a  great  deal  of  walking,  I  have  succeeded  in 
making  the  subscriptions  amount  to  $17,000.  I 
understand  that  other  parties  have  raised  about 
$1,000  more,  making  in  all  about  $18,000.  I  do 
not  mean  to  say  that  those  men  who  have  put  down 
their  names  required  a  great  deal  of  persuasion ;  but 
I  have  seen  many  others  who  were  not  so  free  as 
they  have  been.  As  I  go  through  this  community, 
I  meet  with  a  great  variety  of  people,  and  tell  my 
story  again  and  again  without  any  success.  This, 
sir,  takes  a  great  deal  of  time  and  talk." 

Names  of  other  speakers  then  dear  to  the  com- 
munity and  still  recalled  with  pride  and  affection 
are  Rev.  George  E.  Thrall,  Rev.  E.  T.  Hiscox, 
C.  W.  L.  F.  Morrow,  Professor  Rufus  King 
Browne,  Samuel  Vernon  and  Mr.  E.  N.  Taft. 

A  circular  published  June  10,  1869,  reads: 

"It  having  been  determined  to  endow  and  in- 
corporate the  Adelphi  Academy,  some  account  of 
the  steps  that  have  already  been  taken  will  be  use- 
ful, in  aid  of  the  effort  that  is  to  be  made  to  secure 
further  contributions  to  the  end  proposed,  the 
initiatory  steps  toward  which  were  taken  at  a  meet- 
ing of  citizens  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Acad- 

[23] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

emy,  held  at  the  house  of  Wilham  S.  Woodward, 
Esq.,  in  Chnton  avenue,  on  the  evening  of  Thurs- 
day, June  10,  1869. 

"At  this  meeting,  Mr.  Alfred  S.  Barnes  was 
made  Chairman,  and  Mr.  T.  J.  EUinwood,  Secre- 
tary. 

"The  Chairman,  after  explaining  the  object  of 
the  meeting,  called  upon  Mr.  Enos  N.  Taft  to  state 
the  views  which  he  entertained  in  regard  to  the 
best  method  to  be  pursued.  Mr.  Taft  accordingly 
explained  fully  what  was  proposed  to  be  done, 
namely,  to  put  this  Academy,  now  a  private  insti- 
tution, upon  the  enduring  basis  of  a  public  endow- 
ment and  incorporation.  He  stated  that  the  prop- 
erty of  the  institution  was  subject  to  mortgages 
amounting  to  $60,000,  and  that  it  was  desirable  to 
fix  upon  a  sum,  as  a  price  over  and  above  these 
mortgages,  at  which  the  entire  property  could  be 
taken  by  such  persons  as  are  disposed  to  become  the 
founders  of  the  institution,  as  well  as  petitioners  to 
the  Regents  for  a  Charter,  and  nominators  of  a 
Board  of  Trustees.  By  the  payment  of  such  stipu- 
lated sum,  this  property  might  be  donated  to  the 
cause  of  education  in  this  community;  and,  there 
being  no  stock,  the  mortgages  themselves  would 
ere  long  be  surrendered,  or  paid  off  by  the  generos- 
ity of  our  citizens. 

^'These  remarks  of  Mr.  Taft  were  followed  by 
others  from  gentlemen  present,  and  a  protracted 

[24] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

conversation  took  place  between  Mr.  Lockwood  and 
the  friends  of  the  Academy  present. 

"At  the  end  of  the  discussion,  Messrs.  Lockwood 
and  Ellinwood  signified  their  willingness  to  assent 
to  the  desired  incorporation  and  endowment  of  the 
institution,  upon  terms  to  be  agreed  upon  with 
them;  and  a  Committee,  consisting  of  Messrs. 
Woodward,  Barnes,  and  Taft,  was  appointed  to 
confer  with  them,  and  ascertain  and  report  the 
terms  upon  which  the  Adelphi  Academy,  and  all  the 
property  pertaining  thereto,  could  be  obtained 
from  them,  and  to  report  at  a  meeting  of  the  citi- 
zens, to  be  held  at  the  Hall  of  the  Adelphi  Acad- 
emy, on  the  evening  of  Monday,  the  14th  of  June, 
1869,  at  eight  o'clock. 

"Accordingly  a  call  was  issued  as  follows: 

"'Brooklyn,  L.  L,  June  11,  1869. 

"  'SiE :  You  are  hereby  invited  to  attend  a  Special 
Meeting  of  those  interested  in  the  welfare  and  prosper- 
ity of  the  Adelphi  Academy,  to  be  held  in  Adelphi  Hall, 
corner  of  Lafayette  avenue  and  Hall  street,  on  Monday 
evening,  June  14th,  at  eight  o'clock,  to  hear  the  report  of 
a  Committee,  appointed  at  a  preliminary  meeting,  to 
consider  the  advisability  of  incorporating  that  institu- 
tion. 

A.  S.  Barnes, 
"  ^Committee  J  W.  S.  Woodward, 
E.  N.  Taft.' 

"At  the  adjourned  meeting,  Mr.  Barnes  acted 
as  Chairman,  and  Mr.  Ellinwood  as  Secretary. 

[25] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

*'Mr.  Taft  presented  the  report  of  the  Committee 
in  writing,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy : 

"  'Your  Committee  were  appointed  at  a  meeting  of  gen- 
tlemen feeling  an  interest  in  the  Adelphi  Academy,  held 
on  the  evening  of  the  10th  instant,  at  the  house  of  W.  S. 
Woodward,  Esq.,  in  Clinton  avenue,  Brooklyn,  on  an 
invitation  of  Messrs.  Lockwood  and  EUinwood,  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  Academy;  and  your  Committee  were 
charged  with  the  duty  of  conferring  with  Messrs.  Lock- 
wood  and  EUinwood,  and  of  ascertaining  the  terms  upon 
which  the  Academy,  and  the  property  pertaining  thereto, 
fi<)uld  be  purchased  from  them,  to  the  end  that  the  Acad- 
emy might  be  incorporated,  with  the  usual  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, and  be  made,  if  possible,  an  endowed  institution, 
upon  the  enduring  basis  of  a  corporate  institution,  to  be 
managed  solely  in  the  public  interest. 

"  'Your  Committee  accordingly  do  report,  that  they 
have  conferred  with  Messrs.  Lockwood  and  EUinwood  as 
required,  and  that  these  gentlemen  have  expressed  them- 
selves as  willing  and  desirous  that  the  Academy  should 
be  incorporated,  as  an  important  step  toward  securing 
its  highest  as  well  as  its  permanent  usefulness;  and,  to 
that  end,  that  they  are  ready  to  convey,  at  once,  the 
Academy,  and  all  the  property  pertaining  thereto,  in 
such  form  as  may  be  found  most  feasible,  subject  to  two 
mortgages  thereon,  amounting  to  $60,000  (they  to  be 
permitted  to  fulfill  all  their  existing  engagements  to  their 
present  pupils,)  for  the  consideration  of  $40,000,  of 
which  $20,000  may  be  secured  to  them  by  a  mortgage 
back  upon  the  property,  leaving  only  $20,000  to  be  raised 
and  paid  to  them  at  the  time  of  conveyance. 

"  'And  your  Committee  further  report,  that  they  re- 
gard these  terms  as  entirely  reasonable  and  satisfactory, 
and  such  as  should  be  availed  of  at  once  by  those  who 

[26] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

feel  it  a  duty  to  try  and  perpetuate  a  large  and  valuable 
school  of  learning. 

"  *Your  Committee  wish  also  to  add  the  expression  of 
their  feeling,  that  the  willingness  of  Messrs.  Lockwood 
and  Ellinwood  to  give  their  consent  to  this  change  of 
the  Academy  from  the  relation  of  private  property  to 
that  of  a  public  trust  is  in  the  highest  degree  creditable 
to  them,  and  that  in  so  doing  they  offer  an  endowment  to 
the  community  not  to  be  overlooked,  and  which  cannot  be 
measured  by  money  value. 

"  'All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

'  A.  S.  Barnes, 
"  ^Committee-  W.  S.  Woodward, 
E.  N.  Taft. 

"  'Brooklyn,  June  12,  1869.' 

'^Before  taking  his  seat,  Mr.  Taft  made  explana- 
tion, saying  in  part ; 

"  'The  property  included  in  this  proposal  consists  of 
this  building,  the  lots  of  ground  attached  to  it,  all  the 
furniture  and  appurtenances  belonging  to  the  Academy 
here,  and  also  the  school  property  in  Adelphi  street,  on 
which  there  is  now  a  mortgage  of  $3000.  This  mort- 
gage is  to  be  cleared  off  on  the  basis  of  the  proposal. 
The  property  in  Adelphi  street  consists  of  what  was 
originally  a  small  church,  and  the  ground  on  which 
it  stands,  with  the  furniture  and  fixtures  belonging 
thereto.  Adjoining  that  property  are  two  buildings  which 
these  gentlemen  have  leased.  In  these  buildings  is  also 
apparatus  belonging  to  the  school.  The  Adelphi  street 
property  includes  apparatus  and  appointments  which 
have  accumulated  in  the  progress  of  years.     This  whole 

[27] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

institution,  which  has  been  built  up  here,  it  is  proposed 
to  secure,  and  to  transfer,  eventually,  to  a  Board  of  Trus- 
tees to  be  incorporated. 

"  'I  wish  to  say,  further,  that,  in  fixing  this  sum  of 
$40,000  above  the  mortgages,  the  Committee  took  into 
consideration  the  fact  that  there  has  been  created  here 
a  very  large  school;  that  by  devoted  service  on  the  part 
of  Mr.  Lockwood  and  Mr.  Ellinwood,  the  school  has  been 
increased  to  the  very  large  number  of  over  four  hundred 
pupils.  This  condition  of  the  school,  this  successful 
inauguration  of  the  enterprise,  this  rendering  the  insti- 
tution attractive  to  so  many  families,  was  regarded  by 
the  Committee  as  a  thing  to  be  considered  in  the  light 
of  what  is  often  designated  as  the  "good-will"  of  a  busi- 
ness. This  consideration  did  not  enter  very  largely  into 
the  form  of  figures,  the  basis  on  which  the  $40,000  was 
calculated  being,  to  a  great  degree,  a  property  basis; 
but  allowance  was  made  in  our  minds  for  this  accumula- 
tion of  pupils.  Taking  the  whole  property  of  the  insti- 
tution, as  it  stands,  here  and  in  Adelphi  street,  (which  we 
understand  covers  every  thing  pertaining  to  the  insti- 
tution,) it  seemed  to  the  Committee  that  this  was  a  rea- 
sonable price.' 

*^Mr.  Taft  was  followed  by  Rev.  William  Ives 
Budington,  Charles  Pratt,  Dr.  J.  C.  Hutchison, 
General  H.  W.  Slocum  and  Charles  E.  Hill,  after 
which  the  following  resolution  was  unanimously 
adopted : 

"  'Resolved,  That,  in  the  judgment  of  this  meeting,  the 
time  has  come  when  the  Adelphi  Academy  should  be  an  en- 
dowed and  incorporated  institution,  and  that  such  a  move- 
ment will  have  the  sympathy  of  this  meeting.'  " 

[28] 


CHARLES  PRATT 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

"The  following  subscriptions  were  obtained  to 
secure  the  piu^chase  of  the  property : 

W.  S.  Woodward $10,650.00 

B.  T.  Benton 2,766.67 

A.  S.  Barnes 1,500.00 

A.   C.   Barnes 500.00 

W.   H.   Wallace 500.00 

C.  H.    Noyes 500.00 

C.  E.  Evans 500.00 

Gen.  H.  W.  Slocum 500.00 

Henry  R.  Jones 500.00 

S.  M.  Mills 500.00 

Thomas  Vernon 366.67 

J.  C.  Hutchison,  M.D 100.00 

Charles  E.  Hill 200.00 

E.  N.  Taft 200.00 

Rev.  W.  I.  Budington,  D.D .  .  .  200.00 

C.  W.  L.  F.  Morrow 100.00 

John  Davol 100.00 

Charles  Pratt    300.00 

Samuel  Crowell 400.00 

Peter  M.  Dingee 200.00 

J.  B.   Elliot,  M.D 100.00 

Samuel   Wright    25.00 

$20,708.34 

"A  meeting  of  the  gentlemen  so  subscribing  was 
called  and  held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Woodward,  on 
the  evening  of  the  23rd  day  of  June,  1869,  at  which 
General  Slocum  was  elected  Chairman,  and  Mr. 
Pratt,  Secretary.  After  mutual  conference,  and 
remarks  from  various  gentlemen  present,  a  Com- 

[29] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

mittee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Barnes,  Benton,  and 
Taft,  General  Slocum,  and  Dr.  Hutchison,  was 
appointed,  with  full  power  to  carry  out  the  ob- 
jects for  which  the  above  sum  had  been  subscribed. 
.  .  .  Messrs.  Woodward,  Barnes,  Pratt,  Hill, 
Morrow,  Taft,  and  S.  D.  C.  Van  Bokkelen  ex- 
pressed their  readiness  to  contribute  the  bonds  held 
by  them,  amounting  in  all  to  $9,450,  toward  the 
endowment  of  the  institution,  on  condition  that  a 
certain  amount  should  be  contributed."  * 

The  above  statement  regarding  the  endowment 
and  incorporation  of  Adelphi  Academy  ended  with 
an  appeal  "to  the  liberal  friends  of  popular  edu- 
cation in  our  city"  and  the  hope  that  they  might 
"establish  a  first-class  institution,  for  the  broadest 
and  most  thorough  training,  and  to  make  its  ad- 
vantages as  accessible  as  possible  to  the  largest 
numbers  of  our  population,"  and  was  signed  by  the 
Committee,  H.  W.  Slocum,  A.  S.  Barnes,  B.  T. 
Benton,  J.  C.  Hutchison,  and  E.  N.  Taft. 

The  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  Adel- 
phi Academy  occurred  July  23,  1867.  Henry 
Ward  Beecher  delivered  the  following  address  at 
the  Clinton  Avenue  Congregational  Church : 

Aside  from  some  personal  considerations  which  have 
inclined  me  to  be  present  on  this  occasion  to  testify  my 
respect  and  affection  and  sympathy  for  one  who  is  engaged 
in  this  enterprise,  and  has  been   a   co-laborer  with   me, 

*  ''Endowment  and  Incorporation  of  the  Adelphi  Academy," 
pp.  19-20. 

[30] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

in  some  sense,  and  a  benefactor,  I  am  here  on  account  of 
mj  sympathy  with  the  general  cause  of  education,  and 
with  that  particular  aspect  of  it  which  is  represented 
in  those  things  in  which  this  Adelphi  Academy  differs 
from  ordinary  schools  and  academies. 

I  count  it  a  fortunate  circumstance  that  the  laying 
of  this  corner  stone,  the  erection  of  this  building,  is  be- 
ing celebrated  after  the  manner  in  which  we  celebrate 
the  erection  of  a  church.  It  is  not  altogether  common 
to  lay  the  corner  stones  of  academies  with  circumstance 
and  ceremony.  It  is  very  seldom  that  a  church  is  erected 
without  some  public  recognition  of  this  kind. 

Now,  I  put  educational  institutions  like  this  only  next 
to  the  church  itself.  In  part,  indeed,  they  divide  work 
with  the  church.  And  while  in  some  most  important  re- 
spects the  church  takes  the  precedence  not  only  of  schools, 
but  of  every  other  form  of  instrumentality  for  moral 
good  in  the  whole  community,  being  the  educator  of 
educators,  the  fashioner  of  men  that  are  to  be  cre- 
ators, and  standing,  therefore,  back  of  all  moral  effort, 
and  inspiring  its  details  and  methods — while  in  these 
respects  the  church  stands  preeminent,  there  are  some 
respects  in  which  schools  have  a  work  to  do  whose  im- 
portance can  scarcely  be  measured,  and  which  they  per- 
form far  better  than  in  the  nature  of  things  the  church 
can.  For,  although  it  is  a  part  of  the  economy  of  every 
well  conducted  church  to  take  care  of  its  young,  and  to 
rear  them  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord, 
this  is  only  a  part  of  its  work ;  and  there  can  not  be  given 
to  it  such  exclusive  and  such  devoted  attention  as  by 
those  institutions  which  have  nothing  but  this  to  task 
their  energies.  He  who  educates  the  young  forestalls  all 
other  instrumentalities,  and  begins  where  society  itself 
begins.     He  that  puts  his  hand  upon  the  youthful  mind, 

[31] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

and  shapes  it,  is  squaring  the  stones  that  are  to  build 
up  the  fabric  of  society. 

As  I  came  past  "Holy  Trinity,"  I  did  what  I  do  every 
day  when  I  pass  it — I  stopped,  and  watched  the  process 
of  carrying  up  the  spire.  Under  the  shed  are  many 
cutters  with  their  rude-shapen  blocks  of  stone  which  they, 
one  by  one,  are  striking  into  form.  Far  up  upon  the 
tower,  and  now  upon  the  base  of  the  spire,  are  other 
workmen;  and  as  fast  as  stone  by  stone  is  shaped,  it  is 
hoisted,  by  power  from  below,  and  lowered  into  its  place. 
And  that  stone  which  last  week  was  being  chiseled  under 
the  shed,  I  saw  to-day  forming  a  part  of  the  circular 
frame  in  which  the  clock  is  to  be  set.  And  there  it  will 
stand,  probably,  till  after  your  children  and  your  chil- 
dren's children  are  in  their  graves. 

Now,  if  I  look  through  the  pickets  of  the  fence,  and 
see  what  these  men  under  the  shed  are  doing,  who  are, 
with  mallet  and  chisel,  hammering  and  pecking  at  those 
stones,  I  say  to  m3^self,  "That  may  be  a  good  way  to 
get  a  living,  but  deliver  me  from  being  a  stone-cutter  to 
make  a  living.  I  do  not  like  the  business."  And  yet,  when 
I  stand  off  a  little,  and  see  that  fair  fabric,  that  beau- 
tiful Gothic  structure,  lifting  itself  up,  and  contemplate 
that  by  this  rude  process  every  one  of  the  stones  for  those 
cornices  and  towers  and  windows,  and  for  the  whole  edi- 
fice when  it  shall  be  completed,  from  the  very  cross  and 
summit  to  the  foundation  stones,  will  have  been  shaped 
by  such  minute  and  homely  working  as  this ;  when  I  look 
at  the  sum  total  of  it,  I  say,  "No  small  praise  is  due  to 
those  men  under  the  shed  who  shaped  their  stones."  For 
they,  after  all,  build  the  cathedral.  Others  help,  but 
these  occupy  the  chief  places. 

Now,  when  I  look  into  a  district  school,  in  some  nar- 
row and  confined  room,  and  see  the  weary  task-master  or 
mistress,  whose  patience  is  hammered  out,  if  the  boys' 

[32] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

tasks  are  not,  toiling  and  laboring  with  children,  it  looks 
like  rather  a  small  business.  It  looks  like  rather  a  small 
business  for  a  man  or  a  woman  to  spend  his  or  her  time 
with  these  little  things.  But  these  little  things,  as  no 
stone  ever  did,  grow  while  the  chisel  is  yet  on  them,  and 
swell  to  larger  proportions;  and,  disappearing  out  of 
the  school-house  one  after  another,  go  forth  and  take 
their  places  in  society,  living  stones ;  and  when  the  whole 
fabric  of  society  is  built  up,  I  look  for  that  work  which 
has  been  performed  by  these  humble  teachers,  and  find 
that  those  children  whose  minds  they  shaped  are  our 
magistrates;  our  judges — no,  not  altogether  our  judges, 
many  of  whom  are  an  honor  to  the  country,  and  very 
many  of  whom  are  not ;  our  ministers ;  our  physicians ; 
our  lawyers;  our  virtuous  men  of  every  profession  and 
occupation.  The  school-teacher  takes  these  materials 
before  they  have  had  any  other  handling  except  that 
which  they  have  had  at  the  hands  of  their  parents  in  the 
family — for  father  and  mother  are  the  school-master 
and  school-mistress,  and  the  household  is  the  first  school, 
the  first  church,  the  first  little  commonwealth,  the  first 
everything.  The  child  is  born  into  the  primitive  type  of 
all  the  other  institutions  in  the  country,  when  it  is  born 
into  the  household.  This  is  the  first;  and  it  is  the  most 
important  because  it  is  fundamental.  Then  next  in  order 
comes  the  school.  And  the  older  I  grow,  the  more  I  feel 
that  though  a  man's  work  in  the  school  does  not  show  im- 
mediately, though  there  is  less  ostentation  and  less  pub- 
licity about  it  than  about  almost  any  other  work,  and 
though  far  less  credit  is  given  to  teachers  than  to  those 
in  probably  any  other  profession,  yet  there  is  no  place 
where  a  man's  skill  and  integrity  and  knowledge  take  hold 
so  immediately,  where  so  little  is  lost,  and  so  much  is  in- 
vested at  interest,  and  compound  interest,  as  in  the  school. 
Our  brother  who  stands  in  this  pulpit,  and  doubtless 

[33] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

accomplishes  much,  has  this  disadvantage,  that  he 
teaches  adults  mostly,  whose  minds  are  already  fashioned, 
whose  prejudices  will  not  budge,  whose  habits  are  formed, 
and  whose  tendencies  are  hardened  in  them.  The  foolish- 
ness of  preaching  is  never  so  much  exemplified  as  when 
we  take  account  of  what  we  do  day  by  day,  and  year  by 
year.  If  you  take  account  of  the  immediate  effect  of 
preaching,  I  think  preachers  must  needs  feel  humbled.  If 
you  take  account  of  what  the  preacher  does  by  inspir- 
ing prayer  in  the  household,  by  a  hundred  processes  that 
he  sets  in  motion,  by  ten  thousand  invisible,  subtle  in- 
fluences that  he  exerts,  wide  is  his  sphere,  and  vast  is  the 
work  which  he  performs;  but  if  you  take  account  of  the 
results  which  flow  immediately  from  the  instruction  of 
the  adult  congregation,  then  the  amount  is  very  small. 
I  am  accustomed  to  think  that  the  man  who  has  been  a 
successful  teacher  for  forty  years,  has  done  ten  times  as 
much  work  in  the  community  as  the  most  successful 
preacher,  in  fashioning  the  character  and  giving  form 
to  the  mind,  just  at  that  time  when  Providence  has  or- 
dained the  child  to  be  most  susceptible,  and  when  every 
thought  and  impulse  and  motive  is  most  likely  to  eventu- 
ate in  good. 

It  is  fit,  therefore,  that  those  who  teach  should  stand 
high  as  in  an  honorable  profession;  and  it  is  fit  that  the 
founding  of  an  Academy  should  stand  in  the  community 
as  a  significant  thing,  and  a  thing  worthy  of  respect  and 
celebration  and  honor.  The  successful  teacher  who  loves 
his  work,  and  is  successful  in  it,  is  a  public  benefactor  of 
no  mean  kind ;  and  I  think  that  the  profession  of  teaching 
not  only  ought  to  rise  and  take  its  place  among  the 
learned  and  liberal  professions,  but  ought  to  stand  very 
near  the  top  in  the  gradation  of  respect  and  honor. 

In  regard  to  this  particular  Academy,  I  am  interested, 
aside  from  those  things  in  which  it  agrees  with  all  others, 

[34] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

in  several  distinctive  features  which  are  to  characterize 
its  administration,  and  have  in  a  measure  characterized  it 
hitherto. 

The  first  element  which  I  will  specialize  is  the  intro- 
duction, not  as  a  matter  of  ornament,  but  as  a  funda- 
mental part  of  its  whole  economy,  of  physical  training. 
In  antiquity,  physical  training  constituted  a  very  large 
part  of  education.  In  more  modern  ages,  intellectual  and 
moral  training  have  seemed  almost  to  dispossess  phy- 
sical training.  We  inherited  from  the  monks  the  idea  of 
exclusion  and  seclusion  from  the  world;  and  with  that, 
where  men  were  conscientious,  came  emaciation  by  ex- 
cessive application,  and  leaving  unfrequented  the  open 
air,  and  neglecting  the  manly  tasks  and  occupations  of 
society.  The  cloisters  were  the  mediaeval  school  from 
which  issued  learning.  For  a  long  time  their  influence  re- 
mained; and  even  down  to  my  day  it  was  not  extinct.  I 
well  remember  the  awe  with  which  I  looked  upon  a  thin, 
pale,  long-faced  man,  and  thought  he  must  surely  be  an 
eminent  scholar  because  he  looked  so  nearly  like  having 
the  consumption.  For  I  attached  sanctity  to  emaciation, 
and  thought  that  robustness,  rotundity,  and  redness  of 
the  face,  indicated  a  carnal  tendency,  and  that  they  were 
not  favorable  to  good  works  so  much  as  to  good  meats. 
I  remember  that  there  was  a  prejudice  in  the  commu- 
nity, a  presumption,  in  favor  of  men  who  were  not  men 
of  strength.  Happily,  that  day  is  passed,  or  is  rapidly 
passing;  and  we  are  beginning  to  feel  that  health  is  simply 
a  part  of  our  obedience  to  God,  and  that  the  natural 
laws  which  relate  to  our  bodies  are  to  be  observed  on 
moral  grounds.  We  are  learning,  moreover,  that  even 
intellectual  attainments  themselves  largely  depend  upon 
the  vigor  of  the  whole  system  of  the  scholar;  and  we  are 
learning  to  eschew  that  supremest  folly  which,  for  so 
long  a  time,  expended  means  and  strength  and  hope  upon 

f35  1 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

scpres  and  scores  of  men,  landing  them  in  life,  after  ten 
or  twelve  years  of  study,  just  prepared  to  break  down 
and  die.  We  are  beginning  to  feel  that  it  is  not  worth 
while  for  us  to  educate  men  unless  we  can  carry  them 
through  their  education  with  such  strength  that  they 
will  be  good  for  something  after  they  have  got  it. 

How  often,  when  I  was  a  lad,  shaping  arrows  for  my 
bow,  did  I  attenuate  the  arrow  so  that  when  at  last  I 
drew  it,  it  broke  in  the  first  firing!  How  often  has  the 
knife  of  education  shaved  so  close  and  thin  that  when  the 
man  was  educated  he  could  not  stand  firing  more  than 
once  or  twice!  We  are  learning  that  it  is  bad  economy 
to  take  the  pains,  the  time,  the  money,  and  the  solici- 
tude to  educate  men  unless  they  are  worth  educating, — 
and  that  depends  upon  whether  they  are  properly 
equipped  within,  and  whether  that  equipment  has  a 
proper  gun-carriage  on  which  to  stand  in  the  day  of 
battle. 

The  introduction,  therefore,  from  the  very  beginning, 
of  methodical  and  philosophical  physical  exercise,  co- 
ordinated with  mental  instruction,  is  one  of  the  happy 
features  of  this  Academy;  and  I  commend  it  to  the  con- 
fidence and  the  affection  of  all  those  who  are  the  friends 
of  this  rising  institution. 

Another  feature  which  interests  me  perhaps  more  than 
it  will  you,  though  not  more  than  it  should  you,  is  the 
introduction  of  joint  teaching  of  boys  and  girls.  It 
seems  to  me  that  no  man  can  give  any  reason  why  a 
woman  should  not  be  educated  as  well  as,  and  in  the 
same  respects  in  which,  a  man  is  educated.  We  do  not 
need  to  specialize  in  their  case  the  instruction  that  goes 
to  make  an  engineer,  or  a  physician,  or  a  lawyer;  but 
the  preparatory  education  that  is  given  to  men  is  just 
that  kind  of  education  which  would  profit  women  as  much 
as  men.     If  it  be  true  that  a  woman  has  the  same  facul- 

[36] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

ties,  the  same  susceptibilities  of  education,  as  a  man,  and 
is  ennobled  and  made  stronger  as  wife,  as  mother,  and  as 
friend,  and  is  as  much  stronger  and  better  as  a  man  is 
stronger  and  better  for  education — if  this  be  true  (and 
it  scarcely  can  be  doubted),  why  should  we  so  improvi- 
dently  expend  our  means  as  to  ordain  two  sets  of  institu- 
tions? Why  should  we  go  to  the  expense  of  establish- 
ing what  are  called  "male"  schools  and  "female"  schools? 
I  hate  those  adjectives.  I  would  say  hoys^  schools  and 
girls^  schools ;  or,  women's  schools  and  7rwn*s  schools.  Why 
is  it  necessary  to  found  Vassar  Colleges,  and  expend  a 
million  dollars  in  providing  instruction  and  apparatus 
that  are  already  provided  in  a  score  of  colleges?  Why 
are  not  women  educated  there,  and  our  means  econo- 
mised? Why  should  we  run  parallel  institutions  with 
double  apparatus,  double  expense,  and  a  double  corps  of 
teachers,  when  the  work  could  be  just  as  well  done  by  one 
set?  Not  only  as  well,  but  better  done;  for  I  hold  that 
boys  and  girls  instructed  together,  exercise,  even  in  child- 
hood, that  reciprocal  and  beneficial  restraint  on  each 
other  which  God  designed  that  they  should  exert  when 
they  become  mature,  and  stand  in  their  places  in  society. 
Schools,  I  think,  are  not  normal  and  balanced,  and  capa- 
ble of  developing  the  full  influence  which  belongs  to  them, 
and  which  is  proper  to  them,  until  that  joint  tendency 
which  God  designed  is  maintained  in  them. 

The  time  will  come,  I  think,  when  we  shall  look  back 
upon  this  old  fashioned  separation  of  the  sexes  as  one 
of  the  errors  of  a  past  day.  We  shall  smile  at  our  fathers' 
want  of  wit  and  wisdom.  It  will  pass  into  a  proverb.  We 
shall  see  the  day  when  boys  and  girls  will  be  educated 
by  one  corps  of  teachers,  in  one  school.  I  am  glad  to 
see  this  feature  introduced  here.  I  am  glad  to  know  that 
there  are  many  large,  liberal,  and  very  ably  manned  in- 

[37] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

stitutions  of  a  higher  grade — colleges — that  are  intro- 
ducing the  same  feature.     I  speed  this  good  work. 

Let  me  say,  still  further,  and  more  generally,  that  I 
account  the  sympathy  with  which  you  have  inaugurated 
this  movement,  the  liberality  with  which  the  funds  have 
been  subscribed,  the  public  spirit  which  has  been  shown 
by  many  gentlemen  and  by  the  community  at  large  in  this 
vicinity,  as  auspicious.  It  is  a  complimentary  testimony, 
not  to  Mr.  Lockwood  and  his  corps  of  teachers; — it  is 
complimentary  to  him; — but  far  more  so  to  yourselves. 
No  community  can  ever  be  so  much  complimented  as  by 
itself;  and  that  community  that  loves  schools,  that  tasks 
itself  for  their  establishment  and  for  their  elevation  to 
a  superior  rank,  testifies  to  its  own  refinement,  to  its  own 
intelligence,  to  its  own  public-spiritedness ;  and  I  do  not 
need  to  be  a  prophet  to  foresee  that  this  part  of  Brook- 
lyn in  a  generation  or  two  will  be  demarked,  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  its  population,  from  those  sections  that  are 
negligent  of  schools  and  heedless  of  morals. 

I  think  that  if  my  eyes  were  bandaged,  and  I  were  set 
down  in  Boston  at  night,  without  knowing  where  I  was, 
by  looking  on  the  faces  of  the  people  I  could  tell  what 
city  I  was  in.  I  could  tell  it  by  that  look  which  con- 
tinuous culture  through  several  generations  does  not  fail 
to  give — by  what  I  call  the  cerebral  look,  the  look  of 
brain  in  men's  faces.  Do  not  you  know  that  continuous 
education  carves  the  lip  finer?  Do  not  you  know  that  it 
chisels  the  features?  Do  not  you  know  that  it  sloughs 
animalism?  Do  not  you  know  that  it  gives  that  special, 
striking,  characteristic  development  of  face  and  head 
which  marks  thought,  and  that  it  suffuses  the  features 
with  that  glow  and  beauty  which  spring  from  the  affec- 
tions, and  virtues,  and  moral  instincts  and  sentiments? 
A  community  that  through  successive  generations  are 
highly  educated,  become  highly  organized.     They  become 

[38] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

thorough-bred.  Their  offspring  perpetuate  their  superi- 
ority. And  I  am  greatly  delighted  as  I  begin  to  see  the 
same  trait  manifested  in  Brooklyn.  I  attribute  ft  to  the 
abundance  of  schools  of  rank  and  excellence  in  Brooklyn. 
And  I  say  to  myself,  as  I  go  about  the  city,  "Boston! 
Boston !"  I  can  see  Boston  over  again — that  is,  brain. 
I  can  see  brain  stamped  in  the  features.  The  mask  is 
changing.  The  community  are  receiving  back  already,  in 
more  beauteous  children,  in  nobler  forms,  in  finer  features, 
interest  for  all  their  zeal  and  expenditure  in  the  cause  of 
education. 

This  work  is  to  go  on,  and  every  part  of  our  fair  city 
is  to  feel  its  influence.  In  this  regard  you  are  taking  a 
very  noble  stand  and  leading  off  in  a  very  noble  manner. 
I  pray  that  the  success  of  this  institution  will  be  such 
that  it  will  create  many  imitators.  You  cannot  have  too 
many  schools.  It  is  the  nature  of  schools  to  breed  schol- 
ars. The  more  good  schools  you  have  the  better.  No 
such  school  will  want  for  scholars. 

Go  on,  then,  in  your  good  work.  May  God  strengthen 
you.  Above  all,  may  He  so  endue  those  with  the  Holy 
Ghost  that  are  to  take  the  management  of  this  school  that 
every  child  that  comes  under  their  influence  shall  re- 
ceive more  than  the  culture  of  the  mere  understanding. 
May  it  be  an  intelligence  seasoned  with  grace.  May 
it  be  knowledge  sweetened  by  purified  affection.  May  this 
be  a  school  that  shall  give  power  of  ideas,  but  also  still 
greater  power  of  a  robust  and  noble  manhood.  May 
there  spring  from  the  loins  of  this  school  a  generation 
of  patriots,  of  pure  and  uncorrupt  citizens,  so  that 
when  you  shall  have  passed  away  and  there  shall  be  cele- 
bration days  to  make  the  memory  of  the  founding  of  this 
Academy  illustrious,  3'our  names  shall  be  pronounced  and 
honored  by  men  of  learning  and  influence  and  honor  and 

[39] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

position  whom  you  shall  have  educated,   and  who   will 
delight  to  do  you  reverence. 

At  once  the  superiority  of  the  Adelphi  in  this 
discipline  and  its  visible  effects  began  to  be  extens- 
ively recognized.  A  multitude  of  communications 
from  parents  bore  grateful  testimony  to  the  im- 
portance of  these  beautiful  and  healthful  exercises, 
and  the  influence  exerted  on  behavior  and  char- 
acter. The  New  York  Tribune  and  other  prominent 
newspapers  spoke  in  terms  of  high  praise  both  of 
the  processes  and  of  the  results,  and  other  insti- 
tutions were  stimulated  to  follow  the  example  set 
in  Brooklyn. 

Mr.  Lockwood  was  a  thorough  disciplinarian. 
Teachers  and  pupils  were  held  to  a  strict  account. 
When  he  looked  over  a  record  book  which  was  un- 
tidy, no  word  was  spoken,  for  none  was  needed — 
the  book  was  always  in  order  afterwards. 

It  was  proposed  that  Good  Friday  should  not 
be  a  holiday.  At  once  strong  objection  was  made. 
The  Principal  yielded  so  far  as  to  say  that  all 
children  who  were  Roman  Catholics  or  Episco- 
palians might  be  excused.  The  miracle  of  the  Day 
of  Pentecost  was  repeated  and  numbers  were  added 
to  those  two  churches. 

Mr.  Lockwood  was  an  excellent  judge  of  human 
nature  and  was  able  to  make  wise  selections  of 
teachers. 

He  associated  with  him  Warren  T.  Webster, 
who  was  a  teacher  of  great  ability  and  entire  devo- 

[40] 


ROLL  OF  MERIT 


MAIHA    A.  LKC;GETT 


^•v> 


^^SStNTEo  3^, 


^1 


REWARD  OF  MERIT 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

tion  to  his  chosen  work.  Though  he  died  in  1895, 
the  mention  of  his  name  at  any  meeting  of  Alumni 
arouses  very  great  enthusiasm. 

Dr.  Charles  Jewett,  who  was  in  charge  of  Mathe- 
matics and  Natural  Science,  was  a  man  of  unusual 
ability.  He  afterwards  took  high  rank  as  a  phy- 
sician in  Brooklyn. 

Maria  A.  Leggett,  Superintendent  of  the  Pre- 
paratory Department,  was  admirably  fitted  for 
dealing  with  children.  She  was  skillful  in  matters 
of  discipline,  having  methods  which  did  not  offend 
but  which  secured  the  desired  results. 

There  are,  I  doubt  not,  in  this  city  gray-haired 
men  and  women  who  recall  the  Black  Book.  When 
a  refractory  pupil  was  brought  to  Miss  Leggett, 
she  would  produce  the  book  and  say,  "Black  is  the 
symbol  of  sorrow  and  disgrace.  Your  conduct  has 
been  disgraceful  and  your  name  must  be  entered  in 
the  black  book."  Frequently  well-grown  boys 
would  seize  her  by  the  arm  and  beg  her  not  to  put 
in  their  names.  She  would  occasionally  yield  so 
far  as  to  say,  "I  will  enter  the  name  in  pencil.  If 
you  have  a  good  record  for  two  weeks,  I  will  erase 
it.  If  not,  it  will  go  in  in  ink,  there  to  remain." 
When  her  desk  was  put  in  order  after  her  greatly 
lamented  and  sudden  death,  the  black  book  con- 
tained very  few  entries  in  ink. 

Special  mention  should  be  made  of  Mr.  Philip 
F.  Van  Everen,  who  taught  Bookkeeping.  Even  in 
the  abstract  study  of  figures,  he  contrived  to  make 

[41] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

pupils  think.  While  at  Adelphi  he  invented  the 
book  cover  and  perforated  library  numbers  which 
have  made  his  name  famous. 

In  the  Commercial  Department,  goods  were 
shipped  to  be  sold  on  commission.  There  was  a 
Bank  of  Deposit.  The  money  used  by  the  Depart- 
ment was  of  such  quality  and  appearance  that  a 
crafty  person  passed  a  $50  bill  of  it  at  a  bank  in 
Germany  and  later  a  $10  bill  came  over  from  a 
German  restaurant  in  New  York.  After  that  the 
supply  was  burned. 

Mr.  Lockwood  believed  thoroughly  in  a  system 
of  honors  and  rewards  which  was  so  carefully  de- 
vised that  it  did  not  engender  a  mean  and  selfish 
rivalry  among  those  who  ought  to  be  generous  and 
disinterested  friends.  No  pupil  was  in  another's 
way,  faithfulness  being  all  that  was  required. 

Every  pupil  who  for  five  consecutive  days  ful- 
filled the  following  conditions  was  entered  upon  the 
Roll  of  Merit:  Neither  tardy  nor  absent  (except 
from  Providential  prevention)  ;  "Perfect"  in  De- 
portment, Tidiness,  and  Posture;  Standing  10  or 
higher  on  the  Friday  examination,  in  every  regular 
exercise  of  the  grade  or  its  accepted  equivalent, 
the  maximum  of  the  scale  being  12.  The  insignia 
of  this  rank  was  a  silver  ring  in  the  Collegiate  and 
Academic  Grades,  and  Adelphi  Album  card  in  the 
Intermediate  and  Preparatory. 

Every  pupil  who  won  the  Roll  of  Merit  four 
times  in  five  successive  weeks  became  thereby  a 

[42] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

member  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  This  entitled  the 
pupil  to  a  half -holiday,  which  was  good  at  any 
time  and  was  transferable. 

The  insignia  of  this  rank  was  a  gold  ring  in  the 
Collegiate  and  Academic  Grades,  and  a  silver 
badge  in  the  Intermediate  and  Preparatory.  The 
names  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  were  engrossed 
every  month  and  suspended  in  the  grade-rooms. 

Prizes  were  also  given,  the  Silver  Badge  of  the 
Legion  of  Honor  for  winning  the  rank  nine  times 
during  the  Academic  year,  and  the  Gold  Badge  for 
winning  the  Silver  Badge  twice.  A  Silver  Chaplet 
was  given  for  winning  the  same  three  times,  a  Com- 
memorative Silver  Medal  for  winning  it  four  times 
and  a  Commemorative  Gold  Medal  for  winning  it 
five  times.  The  Golden  Chaplet  was  bestowed  for 
twice  winning  the  Silver  Chaplet. 

In  looking  over  the  Catalogues  of  a  half -century 
since,  one  is  reminded  that  there  is  nothing  new 
under  the  sun  and  agrees  with  Dr.  Eliot  that 
^^Plato  thousands  of  years  ago  made  a  statement 
of  the  theory  of  education  which  has  never  been 
improved  upon." 

These  Catalogues,  yellow  with  age,  tell  of  visits 
to  factories,  of  geological  excursions  and  put  great 
emphasis  upon  self-government  and  upon  calis- 
thenics. 

The  entertainments  given  by  the  Adelphi  were 
largely  attended.    The  boys  were  arrayed  in  scarlet 

[43] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

jackets  and  white  trousers;  the  girls  wore  white 
dresses  trimmed  with  scarlet  ribbon. 

We  present  the  programme  of  the  first  Exhibi- 
tion of  the  Adelphi  Academy: 

Song — "Rally  'Round  the  Flag,  Boys" 

A  Chorus  of  Voices 
Recitation — "The  North  American  Indians" 
Alfred  Henry  Wicks 

I.  WAND  EXERCISE 

Recitation — "The  Dying  Chief" 

Frederick  W.  Smithers 
Song — "America" 

A  Chorus  of  Voices 
Recitation — The  Foot-ball  Orators 

Champion  of  the  Blues — George  M.  Halsey 
Champion  of  the  Greens — George  A.  Waller 

II.  RING  EXERCISE 

Recitation — "The  Flag  of  our  Constellation" 

Frederick  Tomlinson  Peet,  Clarence  C.  Howard 
Edwin  A.  Milne,  Frederick  C.  Burchard 
Recitation — The  Right  of  Free  Discussion 
Percival  W.  Harrison 

III.     FREE  GYMNASTICS 

Song — "Marching  Along" 

A  Chorus  of  Voices 
Recitation — "The  Veteran" 

Edwin  A.  Milne 
Dialogue— "Reading  of  the  Will" 

Squire  Drawl Frederick  T.  Peet 

Swipes,  a  Brewer Mason  J.  Leland 

[44] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Currie,  a  Sadler Clarence  C.  Howard 

Francis  Millington Charles  S.  Parsons 

Recitation — "Speech  of  an  Indian  Chief" 
George  M.  Halsey 

IV.     QUARTETTE  EXERCISE 

Recitation— "The  Psalm  of  Life" 

Charles  S.  Parsons 

Dialogue — "Seeking  Service" 

Mr.  Deputy  Bull Robert  F.  Shaen 

Looney  Mactwolter John  Kerrigan 

John  Gump Joseph  E.   Treat 

Servant Frank  H.  Davol 

V.    DUMB-BELL  EXERCISE 

Song — "La  Marseillaise" 

The  Entire   Junior  French   Class 

Dialogue — Trial  Scene  from  "The  Merchant  of  Venice" 

Grand  Duke John  H.  Kerrigan 

Shylock,  the  Jew Mason  J.  Leland 

Antonio,  the  Merchant Wilson  G.  H.  Clark 

Bassanio  1        Friends  of       JGurdon  Burchard,  Jr. 
Gratiano  J  Antonio  |  Andrew  H.  Hanf ord 

Solanio,  Messenger  of  Grand  Duke,  Alfred  H.  Wicks 
Senators 

Portia   Robert  F.  Shaen 

Nerissa,  Clerk  of  Portia Joseph  E.  Treat 


Calisthenic  Drills  wnder  direction  of 
Mr.  T.  J.  Ellinwood 

Elocutionary  Exercises  under  direction  of 

Mr.    J.   L.   NORTHAM 

JOHN  LOCKWOOD.  Principal 

[45] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

One  who  looks  backward  is  startled  at  the  large 
number  of  contrasts.  The  one  in  dress  is  very 
great. 

Henn'  R.  Stiles  tells  in  his  History  of  the  Cit}', 
that  '*Brookl\Ti  is  specially  rich  in  its  facihties  for 
intercourse  with  its  several  parts  and  with  the 
neighboring  metropoHs  and  adjacent  country. 
With  Xew  York  it  is  connected  by  thirteen  steam 
ferries,  all  supphed  with  excellent  boats  running 
day  and  night  and  affording  rapid,  regular  and 
frequent  transit.  Twent\'-five  lines  of  city  railroad 
using  horse-power  radiate  from  the  ferries  to  the 
bounds  of  the  cit^'  in  every  direction.  There  are 
also  numerous  stage  lines." 

Sanguine  people  dreamed  of  a  bridge  over  the 
East  River,  but  never  of  four.  Elevated  railways 
had  not  begun  to  disfigure  and  accommodate  the 
cit\\  Beyond  dreams  and  speculation  was  the  hole 
in  the  ground  through  which  we  are  transported  to 
transport  ourselves.  'Who  could  have  imagined 
that  the  air  would  become  a  highway  and  that 
Mother  Shipton's  prophecy  that  "Carriages  with- 
out horses  would  go,"  though  long  delayed,  would 
be  fulfilled? 

Professor  EUinwood  needed  a  skilled  assistant 
in  his  department,  which  included  all  the  pupils. 
Fortunately  his  wife,  who  had  also  been  a  student 
in  Dr.  Lewis's  Normal  School  and  was  equally 
proficient  and  enthusiastic,  became  associated  with 
him  as  instructor. 

[46] 


HiSTOEY    OF    AdEXPHI    AcaDE.MY 

The  motto  used  before  iiicorporation.  "Rc>p.:r 
finem,"'  was  discarded  and  succeeded  by,  ■'\'ita  sine 
Uteris  mors  est."  which  was  copied  from  the  Derby 
School  in  England,  havmg  been  devised  in  I860 
by  its  Prmcipah  Dr.  Leary.  The  seal  was  adopted 
and  registered  in  1869. 

The  Academy  Building  was  very  near  Jackson's 
Hollow.  This  irregular  tract  of  land  was  a  farm. 
It  was  bounded  by  Clove  road.  Classon  avenue  and 
extended  to  Wallabout  Bay.  The  owner.  Air.  Jack- 
son, made  a  will  which  he  intended  should  secure 
the  property  to  his  family  on  the  safest  terms.  Liti- 
gation for  a  long  period  of  years  ensued  and  tlie 
acres  were  covered  by  squatters'  homes.  One  strip 
of  the  land  near  264  Greene  avenue  is  still  being 
contested  in  the  courts  and  still  maintains  a  fence. 
All  the  rest  reverted  to  the  city  and  is  now  covered 
with  residences  and  stores. 

Apropos  of  coeducation  it  should  be  noted  that 
the  girls  and  boys  in  the  Academy  all  hved  in 
nearby  homes,  and  so  were  imder  parental  or 
equivalent  supervision  and  guardianship. 

A  somewhat  larger  liberty  than  conmionly 
existed  elsewhere  was  allowed  in  particular  cases 
in  the  selection  of  branches  of  study. 

To  accommodate  students  who  chose  to  remain 
in  the  building  during  the  noon  recess,  and  to  pre- 
vent tlieir  partaking  of  imwliolesome  food  in  the 
interval,  the  Principals  established  in  the  light,  airy 

[47] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

basement  a  neat  Refectory,  where  the  most  health- 
ful viands  could  be  obtained  at  cost. 

It  was  deemed  advisable  that  there  should  be  a 
formal  public  opening  of  the  new  academy  build- 
ing. Accordingly,  on  the  fourth  of  February,  1868, 
America's  greatest  pulpit  orator,  ever  the  warm 
friend  of  the  school,  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  was 
again  called  upon.  Preceded  by  an  excellent  open- 
ing speech  by  the  Danish  consul.  Baron  Harold 
Dollner,  and  followed  by  appropriate  and  eloquent 
addresses  from  Dr.  David  Moore  and  Rev.  Dr. 
William  Ives  Budington,  Mr.  Beecher  delivered  in 
the  Calistheneum  to  an  enthusiastic  and  select  audi- 
ence a  characteristically  instructive  and  inspiring 
address.  A  space  was  then  cleared  with  some  diffi- 
culty in  the  middle  of  the  crowded  hall,  and  some  of 
Mr.  EUinwood's  calisthenic  classes  gave  an  exhi- 
bition of  wonderful  skill  and  rare  beauty.  In  other 
rooms  in  the  building  the  same  evening.  Dr.  Charles 
Jewett  explained  to  many  visitors  his  purpose  and 
plan  of  instruction;  and  similarly  Professor  P.  F. 
Van  Everen,  Director  of  the  Commercial  Depart- 
ment, showed  the  excellent  facilities  for  teaching 
business  theory  and  practice. 

The  school  year  of  1869-70  opened  most  auspi- 
ciously, but  very  soon  clouds  appeared  on  the  hori- 
zon. Mr.  Lockwood's  elaborate  system  of  rewards 
did  not  meet  the  approbation  of  the  governing 
board.  The  short  recitation  periods  (either  twenty 
minutes  or  forty,  and  if  forty,  in  two  sections)  were 

[48] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

disapproved.  It  is  always  difficult  for  anyone  who 
has  been  in  command  to  take  orders.  Mr.  Lock- 
wood  believed  in  himself  and  his  system.  The  fric- 
tion constantly  increased  until  Mr.  Lockwood  left 
on  May  17th,  1870.  The  eleven  grade  teachers 
went  out  at  once,  hoping  thereby  to  compel  the 
trustees  to  reinstate  the  principal  and  give  him 
greater  liberty.  They  never  entered  the  building 
again.  The  places  were  filled.  The  newspapers 
were  crowded  with  articles  to  which  no  reply  was 
made.  Mr.  Lockwood  then  founded  the  Lockwood 
Academy  on  South  Oxford  Street,  which  has  been 
a  popular  and  successful  school.  He  died  Decem- 
ber 24,  1901. 

From  the  great  number  of  tributes  to  his  mem- 
ory we  select  the  following:  "Lofty  of  piu-pose, 
pure  of  spirit,  gentle  of  demeanor,  cultured  of 
mind,  thoroughly  versed  in  the  duties  of  teacher, 
he  never  came  in  contact  with  a  child  without  im- 
proving its  nature.  Through  the  early  death  of 
his  only  child,  the  transmission  to  posterity  of  his 
own  noble  qualities  was  made  possible  only  by  con- 
tact with  his  pupils.  There  are  parents  today  who 
are  giving  to  their  children  the  benefit  of  the  sweet- 
ening influences  which  he  exerted  upon  them  in 
the  school  room." 


[49] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  ADELPHI  ACADEMY 
DURING  THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF 
HOMER  BAXTER  SPRAGUE,  Ph.D.,  1870-1875 


THE   ADMINISTRATION    OF    HOMER    B. 
SPRAGUE,  Ph.D.,  1870-1875 

^w^ITH  the  fall  of  1870  arrived  Homer  B. 
V^  I  ^  Sprague,  bringing  with  him  an  enviable 
^^M^  war  record  and  one  of  high  standing  in 
intellectual  circles. 

The  first  militia  company  to  offer  its  services  to 
the  United  States  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebel- 
lion was  formed  in  Worcester,  Mass.  Colonel 
Sprague  was  then  Principal  of  the  Worcester  High 
School  and  gave  the  boys  military  drill.  He  ap- 
plied to  Gov.  N.  P.  Banks  for  muskets  but  was 
refused.  The  company  supplied  many  gallant  offi- 
cers during  the  war.  Gen.  George  H.  Ward,  who 
fell  at  Gettysburg,  was  one. 

Col.  Sprague  raised  two  companies,  each  of 
which  offered  him  the  captaincy.  He  accepted  the 
one  in  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut.  In  the  spring 
of  1862  he  went  to  New  Orleans.  He  was  rapidly 
promoted  to  be  Major,  Lieutenant-Colonel  and 
finally  Colonel.  In  the  Battle  of  Irish  Bend  he 
was  wounded.  In  the  disastrous  assault  of  Port 
Hudson,  Col.  Sprague  was  one  of  the  two  hundred 
men  selected  for  the  storming  column.  Two  days 
later  General  Banks  issued  his  famous  order  No. 
49  calling  upon  30,000  men  of  the  Army  and  Navy 
to  form  a  "Storming  Column"  of  1000  men  to 
make  a  final  assault.    The  Colonel  being  the  senior 

[53] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

officer  of  his  regiment  addressed  the  men  urging 
them  to  volunteer.  His  own  name  and  that  of 
his  acting-adjutant  were  the  first  to  be  enrolled. 
Following  them  16  officers  and  220  men  volun- 
teered. It  was  expected  that  there  would  be  many 
deaths  in  the  melee.  Many  wills  were  made  and 
jewelry,  money  and  keepsakes  were  entrusted  to 
those  who  remained  at  home.  In  the  Colonel's 
diary  you  may  read,  "I  have  in  my  possession  about 
220  dollars  in  Treasury  notes  of  which  in  case  of 
my  death  I  wish  200  sent  to  my  wife.  For  her 
sake  I  wish  my  remains  to  be  sent  sooner  or  later 
for  interment." 

The  news  of  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg  changed 
the  programme.  The  movement  of  the  storming  col- 
umn and  the  expected  slaughter  were  prevented. 
The  gallant  Thirteenth  marched  into  the  fortress 
and  received  the  surrender  of  the  Confederate  com- 
mander. 

After  the  fall  of  Port  Hudson  Col.  Sprague  and 
a  handful  of  men  held  their  position  in  the  fore- 
front of  Sheridan's  Battle  of  Winchester  when  all 
the  rest  of  the  brigade  were  swept  away  like  chaff 
before  the  wind.  The  Colonel  was  captured  as 
a  prisoner  of  war  and  held  six  months  in  Libby 
Prison. 

Col.  Sprague  was  in  the  service  of  his  country 
four  years,  being  retained  in  the  South  a  year  after 
the  close  of  the  war  to  assist  in  the  work  of  recon- 
struction. 

[54] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

It  is  said  that  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  once  asked 
Rev.  Dr.  Taylor  of  Boston,  "Do  you  think,  Doctor, 
that  if  I  die  I  shall  go  to  Hell?"  The  good  doctor 
replied,  ^'I  fear  so,  but  how  it  will  moderate  the 
temperature."  Col.  Sprague  seems  to  have  mod- 
erated the  temperature  of  Libby.  One  of  his  most 
popular  lectures  is  entitled,  "When  I  was  in  Jail; 
amusing  experiences,  and  kindnesses  received  in 
Confederate  military  prisons." 

Though  Col.  Sprague  has  passed  the  four-score 
mark  his  scholarly  tastes  and  industry  still  abide. 
Quite  recently  he  has  translated  the  Book  of  Job 
into  verse.  Someone  has  said  that  if  all  the  libraries 
in  the  world  were  destroyed  and  the  Book  of  Job 
preserved,  we  should  still  have  literature.  If  the 
Colonel's  version  survived  we  should  be  sure  of 
the  best  literature. 

The  Colonel  kindly  sent  a  most  interesting  article 
in  regard  to  his  Adelphi  experience,  which  has  been 
of  inestimable  service  to  me.  I  gratefully  acknowl- 
edge the  favor. 

H.  B.  SPRAGUE  IN  THE  ADELPHI 

Mr.  Sprague  came  from  Ithaca  to  reside  in 
Brooklyn  about  the  first  of  September,  1870.  He 
had  no  acquaintance  with  any  of  the  instructors 
except  Professor  Ellinwood,  whom  he  had  met  once 
or  twice  and  who  with  Mr.  Lockwood  and  others 
had  built  up  the  school  to  a  wonderful  height  of 

[5.5] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

outward  prosperity,  having  nearly  five  hundred 
pupils. 

The  trustees  at  first  attached  little  importance 
to  Mr.  Lockwood's  withdrawal  and  antagonism. 
They  took  no  steps  to  counteract  the  movement  or 
to  heal  the  grievance.  Instead  of  attempting  to 
effect  a  compromise,  they  simply  ignored  him.  His 
numerous  supporters  were  much  in  earnest  and 
vigorously  active.  Meanwhile  by  a  treble  salary 
and  the  assurance  of  great  and  immediate  useful- 
ness Mr.  Sprague  had  been  drawn  from  his  pro- 
fessorship at  Cornell  University  sorely  against  the 
will  of  its  president,  faculty  and  trustees.  The 
Committee  of  the  Adelphi  were  sure  that  at  least 
three  hundred  students  and  twenty-five  capable 
teachers  would  greet  him  at  the  opening  of  the 
Academic  year.  When  that  day  arrived  the  teach- 
ers were  present  in  full  force  with  several  others 
whom  he  brought  with  him,  but  only  a  little  over 
a  hundred  pupils!  (One  teacher  had  four  grades 
and  six  pupils.) 

Had  he  been  aware  some  weeks  before  of  the 
deep  feeling  in  the  community  and  of  the  formid- 
able extent  of  the  movement  to  discredit  the  cor- 
porate management  of  the  Adelphi,  he  would  not 
have  accepted  the  principalship.  But  the  die  was 
cast. 

His  surprise  was  not  greater  than  that  of  the 
trustees  at  the  unexpected  situation.  Until  the 
beginning  of  the  fall  term  they  had  no  conception 

[56] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

of  an  impending  crisis.  Men  of  unblemished  repu- 
tation, of  recognized  intelligence,  and  of  marked 
ability,  they  had  not  entertained  a  doubt  that  a 
majority  of  the  best  people  in  Brooklyn  were  or 
soon  would  be  heartily  with  them,  and  that  the 
Adelphi  would  everywhere  be  speedily  regarded  as 
an  ornament  and  a  blessing  to  the  city.  From  this 
dream  they  were  rudely  awakened. 

Here  was  the  dilemma  that  perplexed  them :  The 
instructional  force  was  sufficient  to  deal  with  four 
hundred  children  and  youth;  but  there  were  no 
funds  to  draw  upon  for  salaries,  no  present  or 
prospective  endowment,  no  income  other  than  from 
tuition  fees.  To  dismiss  unpaid  half  the  teachers 
who  had  been  engaged  for  a  year  would  not  only 
be  a  disastrous  confession  of  weakness,  but  would 
justly  be  regarded  as  constituting  a  breach  of  faith. 
Great  expenses  were  unavoidable  if  they  were  to 
be  retained. 

Outside  the  board  of  trustees  few  seemed  aware 
of  the  danger  of  a  speedy  and  disgraceful  collapse. 
To  Colonel  Sprague  and  his  intimate  friends  it  was 
for  a  while  a  period  of  painful  anxiety.  No  one 
who  met  Colonel  Sprague  at  that  time  thought  of 
him  as  over-anxious.  He  was  always  calm  and 
serene.  He  was  exceedingly  popular  with  his 
teachers.  He  organized  among  them  a  Shake- 
speare Club  which  met  at  his  house.  He  was  a  thor- 
ough Shakespeare  scholar  and  these  club  meetings 
are  remembered  most  pleasantly.     Mrs.  Sprague 

[57] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

possessed  a  rare  gift  of  entertaining  and  their  home 
on  St.  James  Place  became  a  social  centre. 

The  trustees  were  men  of  courage  and  energy. 
They  at  once  put  forth  strenuous  exertions  to  ob- 
tain financial  aid.  The  city  was  quietly  and  thor- 
oughly canvassed  to  secure  donations.  During  the 
fall  and  winter  (1870-71)  more  than  one  hundred 
gentlemen,  friends  of  education,  liberally  re- 
sponded. About  $50,000  was  thus  raised.  It  may 
be  proper  to  add  that  to  this  sum  the  principal 
slightly  contributed;  also  indirectly  by  paying  tui- 
tion fees  of  pupils  in  straitened  circumstances,  and 
otherwise. 

So  the  emergency  was  met;  the  chasm  was  tem- 
porarily bridged;  all  the  instructors  were  retained 
on  full  pay.  All  idea  of  a  reconciliation  with  Mr. 
Lockwood,  or  of  a  reunion  with  him,  had  such  a 
step  been  desired  or  possible,  was  dropped.  For 
a  year  the  new  Adelphi  was  saved.  But  it  was 
vitally  important  to  increase  immediately  and  per- 
manently the  number  of  paying  students.  The  in- 
stitution must  not  annually  be  forced  to  go  a-beg- 
ging for  money.  Its  existence  must  not  again  be 
imperilled. 

The  day  of  vast  donations  to  educational  insti- 
tutions had  not  begun  to  dawn. 

To  the  principal  much  meditating,  extraordinary 
measures  seemed  imperatively  demanded.  Im- 
mediately after  entering  upon  his  semi-pubh'c 
duties,  he  originated  the  plan  of  a  continuous  series 

[58] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

of  weekly  evening  lectures  in  the  Calistheneum  by 
famous  men.  Each  of  the  many  speakers  was  to 
be  induced  without  pecuniary  compensation  and 
solely  from  a  desire  to  promote  the  growth  of  the 
institution  and  the  good  of  the  community,  to  give 
his  services  gratuitously,  Not  even  travelling  ex- 
penses were  to  be  paid  from  the  receipts;  though 
often  the  lecturer  coming  from  a  distance  was  to 
be  the  guest  of  the  principal  for  a  day  or  two,  some- 
times longer. 

Every  morning  from  the  school  platform  at  the 
devotional  exercises,  as  well  as  daily  through  the 
newspapers,  and  every  week  by  numerous  huge 
placards  in  the  principal  streets,  the  lecture  was  to 
be  fully  announced.  In  every  such  announcement 
it  was  proclaimed  with  emphasis  that  ALL 
THESE  LECTURES  WERE  FREE  TO 
THE  PATROXS  AXD  PUPILS  OF  THE 
ADELPHI,  but  an  admission  fee  must  be  paid 
by  all  others,  the  proceeds  going  to  the  building 
up  of  a  reference  library  in  the  school  building. 

This  programme  was  carried  out  to  the  letter. 
Great  pains  were  taken  by  Prof.  Sprague  to  have 
every  lecture  fully  gazetted  as  to  place,  time  and 
subject.  Often  it  was  reported  in  full  in  the  Brook- 
lyn Eagle  or  other  prominent  newspaper.  At  the 
end  of  the  first  lecture  season,  May,  1871,  thirty- 
one  public  evening  lectures  in  as  many  consecutive 
weeks  had  been  delivered  in  the  Calistheneum. 
Among  the  speakers  who  thus  gave  their  services 

[59] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

to  build  up  the  academy  and  its  library  and  to  bene- 
fit the  community,  and  whose  names  should  be  held 
in  grateful  remembrance,  were  that  prince  of  lec- 
turers, Hon.  George  William  Curtis;  the  greatest 
of  the  then  living  American  historians.  Prof.  Gold- 
win  Smith;  the  man  who  is  today  America's  fore- 
most citizen,  great  as  educator,  author,  and  am- 
bassador, Andrew  D.  White;  Chancellor  Howard 
C.  Crosby,  Daniel  C.  Gilman,  President  of  Johns 
Hopkins  University,  and  others  hardly  less  emin- 
ent. Probably  it  would  be  safe  to  affirm  that  this 
course  of  lectures  was  by  far  the  longest,  ablest, 
most  entertaining,  and  most  instructive  with  which, 
up  to  that  time,  the  people  of  Brooklyn  had  ever 
been  favored.  The  Adelphi  soon  became  recog- 
nized as  an  important  educational  center,  radiating 
intelligence  and  culture  in  all  that  region.  A  simi- 
lar course  of  lectures  on  similar  conditions  was 
delivered  in  each  succeeding  year  of  Col.  Sprague's 
administration. 

The  immediate  object  he  had  in  view,  a  growing 
and  assured  income  for  a  fair  support  of  the 
school,  was  accomplished.  Before  midwinter  of 
his  first  year  the  number  of  students  had  increased 
to  nearly  two  hundred  and  fifty.  At  the  end  of 
his  second  year  over  four  hundred  had  been  en- 
rolled ;  at  the  end  of  his  fifth  year,  nearly  six  hun- 
dred, among  whom  were  some  of  the  brightest 
youth  of  the  city.  The  foundation  of  a  valuable 
and  rapidly  growing  library  was  laid. 

[60] 


FACULTY,  1873 


w 


TO  SHOW  UNIFORM 


;it>\«S  ^^  ^*^^  ^'^^"fr  Sfo 


Hf 


N  f.  W      A  PP^I-  P  H  I      A  c  A  IM^  M  Y 


>;;.   .//./////   //.//>/  .//..//^/,      ^'^ 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

The  standard  of  scholarship  was  silently  lifted 
higher  from  year  to  year.  At  the  end  of  his  first 
year  there  was  but  one  student  sufiiciently  ad- 
vanced to  "graduate."  At  the  end  of  the  second 
year  there  were  five;  at  the  end  of  the  third  year, 
seven;  the  fourth  year,  eight;  the  fifth,  his  last  year, 
twenty-two. 

One  of  the  most  difficult  tasks  that  can  confront 
an  educator  is  the  preparation  of  a  satisfactory 
course  of  graded  studies  and  school  exercises  for 
pupils  all  the  way  from  six  to  twenty  years  of  age. 
Perfection  can  only  be  approximated.  But  the 
attempt  was  forced  upon  Col.  Sprague,  though  he 
knew  that  at  best  his  work  must  be  tentative  and 
somewhat  superficial.  Before  he  entered  openly 
upon  his  duties  in  Brooklyn  he  had  found  it  neces- 
sary to  begin  cautiously  a  rearrangement  of  the 
curriculum  and  indeed  of  the  whole  system.  He 
felt  that  the  scope  of  the  institution  must  be  greatly 
enlarged.  There  must  be  a  partial  though  gradual 
readjustment  of  the  old  machinery  accompanied 
with  the  introduction  of  features  that  were  new. 
The  entire  scheme,  departments,  exercises,  classi- 
fications, textbooks,  recitations,  time-tables,  meth- 
ods, appliances,  from  the  youngest  primary  grades 
up  to  and  including  the  freshman  year  of  a  proper 
collegiate  course — must  be  scrutinized  and  to  some 
extent  recast.  Besides  the  three-years  collegiate 
department,  there  were  sixteen  grades  containing 

[61] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

pupils  of  both  sexes,  and  many  perplexing  ques- 
tions arose. 

Especially  useful  and  suggestive  in  making  out 
the  curriculum  for  the  lower  grades  was  the  elabor- 
ate course  of  study  in  the  public  schools  of  Boston, 
then  reputed  the  best  in  the  United  States.  It  had 
been  prepared  under  the  superintendence  of  that 
veteran  educator,  one  of  his  predecessors  in  the 
Normal  School  at  New  Britain,  Dr.  John  D.  Phil- 
brick.  But  the  combination  in  one  institution  of 
so  many  grades  was  unprecedented;  the  field  was 
vast,  and  the  results,  though  at  the  time  highly 
praised  by  others,  were  never  quite  satisfactory  to 
him. 

He  gave  prominence  to  certain  features  which 
perhaps  ought  even  now  to  be  more  emphasized. 
Among  the  most  noteworthy  were  the  following: 

Recognizing  Latin  and  Greek  as  the  source  of 
the  greater  part  of  the  English  language,  and  led 
by  his  successful  experience  in  preparing  scores  of 
youth  for  college,  some  of  whom  had  distinguished 
themselves  as  scholars  though  fitted  in  less  than 
half  the  time  usually  required,  and  believing  that 
those  studies,  rightly  taught,  avoiding  technical- 
ities and  useless  "gerund-grinding,"  furnished  the 
best  material  and  apparatus  for  discipline  of  mind, 
and  the  best  basis  for  linguistic  proficiency,  he 
sought  to  induce  as  many  as  possible  to  take  at 
least  a  year's  course  in  those  branches.  Especially 
was  a  year  in  Latin  recommended  to  parents  and 

[62] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

pupils  as  a  foundation  for  French  and  other  lan- 
guages derived  directly  from  the  Roman  tongue. 
But  for  students  going  to  colleges  which  insisted 
upon  the  old-fashioned  classical  preparation,  no 
drill-master  could  surpass  the  splendid  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Collegiate  Department,  Warren  T. 
Webster. 

To  such  students  especially,  and  to  all  who  ex- 
pected to  do  much  writing,  phonography,  taught  by 
that  master-workman,  Mr.  Beecher's  favorite 
stenographer,  Professor  Ellinwood,  was  strongly 
recommended.  This  branch  and  telegraphy  were 
now  introduced  in  such  academies  for  the  first  time. 
Hundreds  of  high  schools  and  seminaries  are  now 
following  the  example,  and  many  thousands  of 
students  are  profiting  by  it. 

During  his  three  and  a  half  years  of  principal- 
ship  of  the  High  School  in  Worcester,  Mass., 
simultaneously  with  William  J.  Rolfe,  principal 
of  the  High  School  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  Mr. 
Sprague  introduced  the  study  of  English  literature. 
Rolfe  taught  Shakespeare's  Merchant  of  Venice 
and  Sprague,  Milton's  Minor  Poems.  They  are 
believed  to  have  been  pioneers  in  such  teaching, 
which  is  now  almost  universal  in  secondary  schools 
and  colleges.  As  principal  at  Worcester  and  as 
professor  of  English  Literature  at  Cornell  Uni- 
versity, he  and  his  students  had  found  it  one  of 
the  most  inspiring  of  subjects,  and  he  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  give  it  a  place  in  the  curriculum  of  the 

[63] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Adelphi,  himself  imparting  the  instruction.  The 
innovation,  begun  in  the  fifties,  had  become  a  great 
success. 

As  already  remarked,  the  old  Adelphi  had  sur- 
passed most  if  not  all  other  academies  in  the  de- 
partment of  physical  training.  This  feature  was 
retained  and  made  increasingly  effective  by  Pro- 
fessor Ellinwood's  lengthened  experience  and 
unrivalled  tact  and  skill.  With  a  view  to  facilitate 
such  exercises  as  well  as  to  signify  and  inculcate 
that  equality  so  important  but  so  often  forgotten 
where  rich  and  poor  meet,  a  simple,  modest  and 
uniform  dress,  inexpensive  but  beautiful,  ap- 
propriate for  wearing  at  home  or  in  the  street,  as 
well  as  in  the  Calisthenic  drill,  was  devised  and 
earnestly  recommended.  Though  not  compulsory, 
it  was  so  attractive  and  useful  that  it  was  almost 
universally  adopted  by  the  students.  It  increased 
a  desirable  esprit  de  corps  among  all  the  students, 
a  regard  for  the  honor  and  interests  of  the  institu- 
tion, a  sense  of  fraternity  among  the  boys  and 
sisterhood  among  the  girls. 

To  a  gi'eater  extent  than  had  been  customary  in 
any  then  existing  secondary  institution,  profes- 
sional or  departmental  instruction  was  introduced, 
enabling  each  teacher  to  devote  himself  to  a  favor- 
ite specialty,  and  giving  each  ample  time  to  work 
up  the  process  of  instruction  as  a  fine  art.  So  in- 
stead of  an  instructor's  attempting  to  cover  half 
a  dozen  subjects,  some  of  which  might  be  distasteful 

[64  1 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

or  badly  handled,  each  was  assigned  a  branch  for 
which  decided  fitness  and  liking  had  been  manifest, 
and  the  pleasure  and  success  of  imparting  and  re- 
ceiving information  were  considerably  augmented. 
The  surplus  number  of  the  teachers  at  the  outset 
facilitated  the  introduction  of  this  improvement. 
Naturally,  however,  in  the  primary  department,  the 
need  of  something  like  a  mother's  care  and  affec- 
tionate and  constant  watchfulness  made  it  best  to 
retain  the  old  method  of  the  perpetual  presence  of 
the  teacher  with  young  pupils. 

The  plan  for  the  higher  grades  is  thus  set  forth 
in  the  catalogue: 

Teachers  who  have  special  power  or  skill  in  any  direc- 
tion will,  as  far  as  practicable,  be  allowed  full  oppor- 
tunity for  its  exercise.  For  example,  an  instructor  who 
possesses  a  remarkable  tact  and  power  in  teaching 
geography,  and  has  a  love  for  that  specialty,  may  be 
allowed  to  pass  from  grade  to  grade  during  each  day, 
teaching  successively  classes  in  different  stages  of  pro- 
gress. In  this  way  we  hope  to  secure  daily  the  very 
best  work  of  which  each  teacher  is  capable. 

Throughout  the  five  years  of  his  regime  unusual 
attention  was  given  to  vocal  culture  and  in  a  less 
degree  to  delivery  by  gesture,  in  a  word  elocution; 
not  at  all,  however,  for  theatric  display,  but  to  avoid 
the  deplorable  waste  of  precious  time,  thought,  and 
energy,  from  lack  of  clear  and  forcible  expression 
in  discourses  to  congregations  and  other  audiences, 
fully  half  of  the  average  sermon  or  address  being 

[65] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

utterly  lost  to  the  average  listener.  He  had  himself 
some  reputation  as  a  public  speaker,  though 
conscious  that  he  did  not  deserve  the  extravagant 
laudations  heaped  upon  him  as  an  orator  by  the 
newspaper  press.  From  the  beginning  of  liis  col- 
lege course  he  had  studied  the  subject  of  Voice  and 
Gesture,  and  had  taught  it  in  public  and  private 
schools  and  in  the  University  at  Ithaca.  Several 
students  trained  by  him  had  captured  the  Yale  De 
Forest  $100  prize  for  the  best  written  and  best 
spoken  oration,  a  gold  medal  of  which  he  was  the 
&st  recipient.  The  principles  of  a  new  system 
original  with  him  and  published  in  a  treatise  of 
a  hundred  pages  (in  the  Franklin  Sixth  Reader 
and  Speaker)  simplifying  the  whole  business,  show- 
ing by  EUinwood's  phonographic  signs  the  fourteen 
or  fifteen  vowel  sounds  and  twenty-one  or  twenty- 
two  consonant  sounds  in  the  English  language  and 
their  natural  fitness  to  express  acts  or  states ;  show- 
ing also  that  at  bottom  there  are  but  three  kinds  of 
movements  expressive  of  facts  or  feelings  (gestures 
of  place,  imitation,  or  emphasis,  indicating  re- 
spectively where,  how  or  how  much  force  or  earnest- 
ness)— these  principles,  which  a  child  can  under- 
stand, were  illustrated,  applied,  and  thoroughly 
tested.  Graduates  so  trained  in  the  acadeni}^ 
achieved  marked  success,  and  some  are  still  con- 
spicuous, especially  in  the  pulpit.  In  the  important 
inter-academic  contest  at  Albany  under  the  au- 
spices of  the  Regents  of  the  University,  at  which 

[66] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

all  the  high  schools  and  academies  of  the  State  of 
New  York  were  allowed  to  compete  in  Elocution, 
two  Adelphi  students,  without  having  made  any 
special  preparation,  were  victors,  one  young  lady 
receiving  the  highest  prize. 

It  was  regarded  as  important  that  the  young  men 
should  be  skilled  in  Parliamentary  Practice.  To 
effect  this  result,  aid  and  advice  were  given  in  the 
formation  and  management  of  two  literary  so- 
cieties. Here  they  became  accustomed  to  read 
essays,  offer  criticisms,  deliver  orations,  speak  ex- 
tempore in  discussion  after  careful  thinking,  and 
to  declaim  choice  passages  like  young  Edmund 
Burke  at  Trinity  College,  Dublin.  Such  societies 
had  existed  for  a  hundred  years  at  Yale  and  per- 
haps elsewhere;  but  now  for  the  first  time  their 
exercises  were  fully  recognized  as  a  part  of  the 
legitimate  work  of  an  educational  institution,  to 
be  credited  to  the  participant  in  estimating  his  rank 
as  a  scholar. 

Too  often,  it  might  perhaps  be  said  always,  in 
other  institutions,  faithful  society  work  of  high 
merit,  requiring  time  and  careful  preparation, 
necessarily  withdrawing  the  student's  attention 
from  the  prescribed  studies  of  the  class  room,  had 
in  effect  lowered  his  standing  in  scholarship  as 
marked  by  tutors  and  professors.  The  attempt  to 
incorporate  the  society  performances  as  virtually 
a  part  of  the  curriculum,  untried  and  unknown  else- 

[67] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

where,  was  successful  here.     The  language  of  the 
annual  catalogue  upon  the  subject  is  as  follows: 

There  are  two  literary  societies  composed  of  the  stu- 
dents of  the  higher  academic  and  collegiate  grades.  The 
officers  are  elected  by  the  members,  and  the  rhetorical 
exercises  of  the  appointees  are  credited  to  them  in 
making  up  their  standing  in  scholarship. 

Numerous  and  valuable  prizes  for  excellence 
were  awarded  in  the  new  Adelphi;  but  on  a  dif- 
ferent plan  from  that  which  unfortunately  prevails, 
even  to  this  day,  in  almost  all  institutions.  The 
general  rule  is  stated  in  the  annual  catalogue  as 
follows : 

The  prizes  are  not  given  for  relative  superiority,  but 
for  positive  excellence.  No  one  has  received  anything  for 
merely  outstripping  his  fellow-pupils;  but  all  who  have 
attained  great  excellence  have  received  gifts  amounting 
in  the  aggregate  to  several  hundreds  of  dollars. 

Here  was  a  principle  to  be  observed  very  differ- 
ent from  the  test  commonly  employed  in  determin- 
ing the  bestowment  of  prizes.  The  almost  universal 
appeal  is  to  a  desire  for  superiority.  The  chief 
motive  is  an  eagerness  for  honors  and  emoluments. 
The  struggle  is  at  times  a  sharp  selfish  competition. 
The  feeling  unavoidably  awakened  is  the  very 
essence  of  the  ambition  of  Calderon's  archdemon  in 
^^Magico  Prodigioso,"  identical  with  that  of  Satan 
in  Milton's  "Paradise  Lost," 

"aspiring 
To  set  himself  in  glory  above  his  peers." 

[68] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

There  is  likely  to  be  a  temptation  to  fraud  in  the 
preparation,  the  danger  of  pride  and  conceit,  if  suc- 
cessful, of  envy  and  mortification,  if  defeated ;  often 
a  feeling  that  injustice  has  been  done  and  partiality 
shown,  sometimes  a  foolish  overestimate  of  the  im- 
portance of  being  or  seeming  to  be  superior.  Think 
of  poor  Scott  heartbroken  because  he  failed  to  be 
the  first  to  reach  the  south  pole !  Certainly  the  am- 
bition is  the  exact  reverse  of  the  spirit  of  the 
Founder  of  Christianity,  who  said,  "I  seek  not 
honor  from  men,"  and  the  opposite  of  the  rule  pre- 
scribed by  the  great  apostle,  "in  honor  preferring 
one  another." 

Dr.  Sprague  was  Principal  for  five  years  ending 
in  the  summer  of  1875.  He  would  have  continued 
here  indefinitely,  for  he  believed  himself  to  be  doing 
a  good  work,  though  disposed  to  give  the  chief 
credit  to  his  able  and  faithful  assistants.  But  in 
the  latter  part  of  1874  there  came  an  event  which 
stirred  Brooklyn  as  nothing  else  had  ever  done.  His 
particular  friend,  the  Adelphi's  distinguished  bene- 
factor, the  greatest  of  living  pulpit  orators,  Henry 
Ward  Beecher,  was  publicly  charged  with  the 
grossest  immorality.  The  accuser  was  a  brilliant 
young  man  who  had  been  his  disciple.  The  city 
was  divided  into  two  hostile  camps.  Both  parties 
had  eminent  leaders  and  were  doubtless  conscien- 
tious. 

Dr.  Sprague's  first  knowledge  of  the  matter  was 
communicated  to  him  by  one  of  the  most  prominent 

[69] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 


of  Mr.  Beecher's  opponents,  a  Doctor  of  Divinity. 
He  called  at  the  Adelphi  one  afternoon  and  took 
the  principal  for  a  two-hours'  ride  in  his  carriage. 
He  told  him  of  the  multitudinous  facts  and  argu- 
ments that  seemed  to  establish  his  view  of  the  case. 
Astounded,  Mr.  Sprague  immediately  consulted  his 
intimate  friend,  one  of  the  Adelphi  trustees,  a 
lawj^er  of  the  highest  character  and  the  soundest 
judgment,  Mr.  Enos  N.  Taft.  They  two  deter- 
mined to  sift  out  the  truth.  For  weeks  they  spent 
many  hours  in  examining  every  scrap  of  evidence. 
They  were  able  to  get  at  some  facts  and  considera- 
tions that  could  hardly  be  produced  in  a  court  of 
justice.  They  came  to  the  conclusion  that  Mr. 
Beecher  was  entirely  innocent,  though  chargeable 
with  folly. 

A  story  is  told  of  his  characteristic  humor  in 
stating  his  own  conviction  of  his  mistakes.  It  is 
said  that  his  Counsel  in  the  trial.  Senator  Evarts, 
General  Tracy,  and  Judge  Porter,  called  upon  him 
on  a  Sunday  afternoon  for  a  consultation,  apolo- 
gizing as  they  came  in  for  trespassing  on  sacred 
time.  He  replied,  "You're  all  right.  We  are  told 
on  good  authority  that  if  your  ox  or  your  ass  fall 
into  a  pit,  you  may  pull  him  out  on  the  Sabbath 
day.  Now  you'll  not  find  a  bigger  ass  than  I,  nor 
a  deeper  pit." 

Dr.  Sprague  had  for  several  years  sought  to 
secure  the  services  of  Mr.  Beecher  as  one  of  tlie 
lecturers  for  the  benefit  of  the  Adelphi  and  its 

[70] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

library,  and  he  had  at  last  consented.  Repeated 
announcements  had  been  made  from  the  Academy 
platform  and  in  the  newspapers  that  the  splendid 
orator  was  engaged  to  lecture  in  the  Calistheneum. 
He  had  done  much  for  the  school  in  its  early  years, 
and  again  he  was  to  render  it  substantial  service. 
But  when  the  fierce  controversy  broke  out  directly 
after  these  announcements,  the  question  instantly 
arose  in  the  board,  ''Shall  he  be  permitted  to  lecture 
in  the  Academy  Hall?"  If  so,  the  fact  might  fairly 
be  construed  as  an  espousing  of  his  side  in  the  great 
contest.  If  not  permitted,  it  would  indicate  that 
the  institution  sided  against  him.  On  the  principle 
that  an  accused  person  should  be  treated  as  innocent 
until  proved  guilty.  Dr.  Sprague  quietly  but 
strenuously  insisted  that  the  lecture  should  be  de- 
livered; but  a  majority  of  the  Trustees  were 
against  him. 

To  Dr.  Sprague  it  seemed  as  if  there  was  a  de- 
termination to  prejudge  the  case,  to  array  the 
institution  against  Mr.  Beecher,  unwarrantably  and 
strongly  to  throw  its  weight  into  the  wrong  scale, 
inevitably  and  wrongly  to  influence  public  opinion 
in  what  seemed  a  cruel  attempt  to  destroy  a  great 
and  good  man.  The  conflict  increased  in  bitterness. 
The  battle  threatened  to  last  for  years.  Although 
perfect  courtesy  characterized  all  the  intercourse 
between  Dr.  Sprague  and  the  trustees,  his  known 
attitude  as  a  champion  of  Mr.  Beecher  in  public 
^nd  in  private,  when  the  odds  were  against  him  and 

[71] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

daily  increasing,  menaced  great  harm  to  his  beloved 
Adelphi.  He  had  been  urgently  invited  to  return 
to  his  professorship  in  Cornell  University,  and  now 
the  president  of  another  famous  university  invited 
him  to  visit  it  with  a  view  to  acceptance  of  the  posi- 
tion of  Professor  of  English  Literature.  He  did 
so,  and  his  duty  and  apparent  interest  induced  him 
to  tender  his  resignation  of  the  principalship  of 
the  academy.  It  was  accepted  by  the  trustees  with 
many  expressions  of  their  esteem.  In  the  catalogue 
for  that  year  they  complimented  him  for  what  they 
described  as  "the  able  management  under  which 
the  Academy  had  achieved  its  established  success." 
At  the  closing  exercises  they  joined  the  teachers 
and  students  in  presenting  him  handsome  and 
costly  gifts. 

"By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  The 
maxim  is  as  true  of  an  institution  as  of  a  man,  and 
its  best  test  is  the  character  of  the  men  and  women 
it  has  sent  forth.  Others  know  perhaps  better  than 
Dr.  Sprague  the  honorable  career  and  vast  useful- 
ness of  the  Adelphi  during  the  last  thirty-eight 
years;  but,  not  to  mention  "honorable  women  not 
a  few"  who  have  blest  the  world  and  adorned  so- 
ciety, the  lustrum  of  his  administration  did  much  to 
produce  such  men  as  Sidney  C.  Partridge,  William 
Ordway  Partridge,  Ambrose  Tighe,  Charles  M. 
Pratt,  William  W.  Davis,  Winston  H.  Hagen, 
Doremus  Scudder,  Starr  J.  Murphy,  Charles  H. 
Sprague,  Henry  C.  Folger,  Edward  Benedict,  Ira 

[72] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Beard,  Frank  M.  Carson,  Edward  and  William 
Peet,  Alfred  and  Harold  Vernon,  Henry  Irving 
Plummer  and  others  conspicuous  among  the  noble 
living  or  sleeping  with  the  honored  dead. 

In  closing  I  submit  a  letter  from  Rev.  Doremus 
Scudder,  a  member  of  the  famous  Scudder  family, 
and  now  a  clergyman  in  Honolulu : 

My  preparation  for  College  was  received  at  the  Adel- 
phi Academy  when  Col.  Homer  B.  Sprague  was  prin- 
cipal. His  conduct  of  the  institution  was  notable. 
There  were  no  disciplinary  difficulties  that  I  recall.  The 
relations  between  teachers  and  pupils  were  quite  ideal 
and  school  life  was  very  happy  for  all  of  us. 

Mr.  Sprague  was  warmly  interested  in  school  hygiene, 
a  matter  not  of  great  concern  to  many  teachers  at  that 
early  day.  School  lunches,  calisthenic  drill  and  encour- 
agement of  outdoor  sports,  all  formed  a  large  part  of  his 
program. 

He  also  laid  special  stress  upon  expression.  I  can 
but  feel  that  in  this  particular  he  was  far  ahead  of  many 
present  day  educators.  Little  or  no  attention  seems  paid 
now  in  many  schools  to  the  very  important  subject  of 
training  the  speaking  voice.  In  the  Adelphi  of  my  time, 
besides  monthly  literary  exercises  there  were  in  the  chapel 
daily  declamation  and  reading  by  the  pupils  of  the  upper 
grades.  No  one  was  exempt.  Here  the  girls  were  taught 
to  speak  so  that  they  could  be  heard,  a  desideratum  that 
seems  almost  totally  lost  sight  of  in  our  higher  institu- 
tions of  learning  today,  to  judge  from  the  atrocious 
mumbling  and  sotto  voce  soliloquizing  of  most  women 
who  attempt  to  speak  in  public. 

Unusual  care  was  devoted  not  only  to  voice  culture 
b  .t  to  graceful  and  forceful  address,  to  literary  study 

[73] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

and"  expression.  Colonel  Sprague  himself  took  personal 
supervision  of  this  department  of  instruction.  I  shall 
have  occasion  always  to  remember  with  deep  gratitude 
what  he  did  for  me  in  this  regard.  Being  afflicted  with 
a  diffidence  that  amounted  to  a  disease,  all  public  speech 
was  a  nightmare  of  terror.  But  Colonel  Sprague's  kindly 
and  persistent  training  has  borne  fruit  that  has  been 
ripening  increasingly  with  the  lapse  of  years.  As  a  public 
speaker  I  owe  more  to  him  than  I  can  well  express  and  I 
am  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  this  feature  of  my  early 
education  has  proved  of  more  importance  and  value  than 
any  other. 

The  Adelphi  Academy  in  Colonel  Sprague's  time  fitted 
men  thoroughly  for  college  and  sent  out  boys  and  girls 
w^ith  a  love  both  for  study  and  for  active  service.  I  have 
always  felt  that  the  breadth  of  mind  and  wide  interests 
of  our  Principal,  conjoined  with  his  gracious  personality 
and  wise,  patient  oversight  gave  a  character  of  peculiar 
attractiveness  and  strength  to  the  school. 

It  is  written  to  the  credit  of  Col.  Sprague  that 
he  invented  the  system  of  fire  signals  and  drills 
which  is  now  in  use  the  world  over,  not  only  in 
schools  but  in  business  houses,  hotels  and  steam- 
ships. It  has  saved  thousands  of  lives,  and  ranks 
the  Colonel  among  the  leading  benefactors  of  hu- 
manity. 

While  in  charge  of  the  Boston  Girls'  High 
School  he  put  the  system  into  practice.  This  was 
long  before  such  duties  were  prescribed  by  school 
authorities  anywhere. 


[74] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  ADELPHI  ACADEMY 
DURING  THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF 
STEPHEN  GALE  TAYLOR,  Ph.D.,  1875-1883 


THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  STEPHEN  GALE 
TAYLOR,  Ph.D.,  1875-1883 

By  Frederick  Webster  Osborn 

OR.  TAYLOR  was  elected  as  the  successor 
of  Professor  Sprague  in  1875.  One  of  the 
reasons  for  the  selection  of  Dr.  Taylor  was 
the  desire  to  place  the  Grammar  Department  upon 
a  thoroughly  sound  basis.  If  the  Adelphi  Acad- 
emy was  to  compete  successfully  with  the  public 
schools  of  Brooklyn,  the  elementary  subjects  of 
reading,  writing  and  arithmetic  must  be  well  taught 
and  the  several  classes  be  under  competent  super- 
vision. 

Public  School  No.  15,  of  which  Dr.  Taylor  was 
at  that  time  Principal,  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
model  schools  of  Brooklyn.  To  secure  his  services 
for  the  administration  of  this  young  institution  it 
was  thought  would  silence  all  criticism  respecting 
the  character  of  the  instruction  in  the  Adelphi. 

The  following  statement  was  offered  by  the 
Trustees  to  explain  the  situation:  ''We  seek  to  com- 
bine the  special  excellencies  of  both  the  public 
school  and  academic  systems,  and  believe  that  we 
may  safely  recommend  the  Adelphi  as  being 
adapted  alike  to  the  thorough  and  accurate  train- 
ing of  the  young  and  to  the  higher  and  more  com- 
plete education  of  those  who  graduate  from  the 

[77] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

public  schools  and  other  schools  of  like  grade  in 
our  city." 

The  years  between  1875  and  1880  mark  the 
growth  of  a  widespread  dissatisfaction  with  the 
methods  of  teaching  then  prevalent  in  most  of  the 
large  cities  of  the  country.  The  attention  of  the 
pupil  was  closely  held  to  the  textbook,  the  language 
of  which  he  was  expected  carefully  to  memorize. 
Recitations  were  largely  occupied  in  repeating  ab- 
stract definitions  in  geography  and  rules  in  arith- 
metic and  grammar.  Modern  pedagogy,  which 
makes  the  child  rather  than  the  subject  the  centre 
of  interest,  had  hardly  begun  to  be  formulated. 
The  facilities  for  the  training  of  teachers  were 
meagre  and  largely  based  upon  the  traditions  of 
the  past.  To  those  not  familiar  with  the  situation 
it  is  difficult  to  appreciate  the  change  that  has  been 
wrought  by  modern  methods  of  teaching. 

One  of  the  earliest  movements  for  a  better  state 
of  things  occurred  in  the  town  of  Quincy,  Mass. 
Colonel  Parker,  at  that  time  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  was  attracting  attention  by  the  introduc- 
tion of  methods  designed  to  stimulate  the  interest 
and  awaken  the  dormant  activities  of  children.  In 
order  to  satisfy  himself  as  to  the  value  of  these 
methods  Professor  Osborn  spent  several  days  in 
visiting  the  Quincy  schools.  He  was  freely  admit- 
ted to  classrooms  and  asked  to  observe  the  work 
of  the  teachers.  He  found  them  using  the  word 
method  in  the  teaching  of  reading,  developing  the 

[78] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

fundamental  facts  of  geography  without  a  text- 
book, and  making  arithmetic  interesting  by  apply- 
ing its  principles  to  problems  that  were  familiar 
to  the  child.  The  most  superficial  observer  could 
not  fail  to  note  the  effect  upon  the  attention  and 
the  pleasurable  activity  of  the  children. 

Some  of  the  most  valuable  of  these  methods  were 
brought  to  the  attention  of  the  teachers  in  the 
Adelphi,  and  they  were  assisted  in  introducing 
them  into  the  elementary  grades.  About  the  same 
time  improved  methods  of  teaching  English  were 
introduced  into  the  upper  grammar  and  sub-col- 
legiate grades,  especially  the  reading  and  analysis 
of  some  English  classic.  By  such  means  the 
Adelphi  Academy  sought  to  improve  the  whole 
process  of  teaching  and  prepared  the  way  for  the 
more  scientific  methods  which  are  now  in  general 
use.  The  stimulus  which  it  gave  to  improved  meth- 
ods of  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  Brooklyn 
has  been  often  recognized  and  freely  admitted. 

In  the  fall  of  1875,  William  C.'Peckham  be- 
came professor  of  Mathematics  in  the  Collegiate 
Department.  Subsequently  his  work  was  enlarged 
to  include  Physics  and  Astronomy.  His  valuable 
services  to  both  the  Academy  and  the  College,  in 
which  he  is  now  the  senior  professor,  are  too  well 
known  to  require  further  comment.  He  is  well 
known  in  the  scientific  world,  having  been  on  the 
editorial  staff  of  the  Scientific  American  since 
1897. 

[79] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Several  years  later  Mr.  Charles  O.  Gates  be- 
came an  assistant  in  the  Classical  Department. 
Under  the  skillful  and  thorough  instruction  of  Mr. 
Webster,  Mr.  Gates  and  Mr.  Peckham,  the  Adel- 
phi became  widely  known  throughout  New  Eng- 
land as  a  most  successful  school  for  the  prepara- 
tion of  boys  and  girls  for  college.  In  a  letter  to 
President  Taylor,  President  Seelye  of  Amherst 
College  says,  "The  superior  work  which  the  Adel- 
phi Academy  is  doing,  to  which  the  excellent  stu- 
dents she  has  sent  to  this  college  bear  constant 
witness,  leads  me  to  hope  for  the  largest  success 
to  the  efforts  now  making  for  the  endowment  of 
that  institution." 

Meanwhile  the  standard  for  graduation  from  the 
Literary  and  Scientific  Courses  was  raised  by  the 
addition  of  a  year  to  each  of  them.  This  was  in 
fulfillment  of  the  purpose  previously  announced 
^'of  developing  and  expanding  the  Collegiate  De- 
partment." With  the  view  of  strengthening  the 
Department  of  English,  Dr.  Julian  W.  Abernethy 
was  called  in  1881  from  Middlebury  College  to  the 
chair  of  English  Literature.  The  wisdom  of  this 
step  was  at  once  apparent  in  the  fresh  interest  in- 
fused into  this  subject.  Professor  Abernethy  had 
a  large  share  in  elevating  the  character  of  the  work 
in  the  Collegiate  Department  during  the  ten  years 
of  his  connection  with  it.  He  was  subsequently 
invited  to  become  Principal  of  the  Berkeley  Insti- 
tute, which  under  his  management  became  well 

[80] 


WARREN    T.    WEBSTER 


FREDERIC  W.  OSBORN 


FRANKLIN   W.   HOOPER 


WILLIAM    C.    PECKHAM 


History  or  Adelphi  Academy 

known  as  one  of  the  best  private  schools  in  Brook- 
lyn. 

In  1879  Dr.  Charles  Jewett  resigned  as  Pro- 
fessor in  the  Department  of  Natural  Science  to 
begin  the  practice  of  medicine.  Dr.  Jewett  ac- 
quired distinction  in  his  profession  and  for  many 
years  was  a  lecturer  in  the  Long  Island  Medical 
College. 

Among  the  various  candidates  for  the  position, 
selection  was  made  of  Professor  Franklin  W. 
Hooper.  The  scope  of  the  department  was  en- 
larged by  the  addition  of  the  sciences  of  Zoology 
and  Geology.  The  laboratory  work  in  Chemistry 
was  broadened  and  field-work  in  Geology  in- 
troduced. These  changes  greatly  increased  the 
interest  in  this  department  and  gave  the  Adelphi 
a  leading  position  among  the  educational  institu- 
tions of  the  city.  By  his  large  acquaintance  with 
his  subject  and  his  enthusiasm  as  a  teacher,  Pro- 
fessor Hooper  gained  a  reputation  as  an  educa- 
tional leader  which  he  has  utilized  with  great  ad- 
vantage to  this  city  as  Director  of  the  Brooklyn 
Institute  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  As  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  from  1913  until  his  death, 
the  College  and  Academy  enjoyed  the  benefit  of 
his  counsel,  the  value  of  which  was  enhanced  by 
his  familiarity  with  its  history  and  progress. 

The  importance  of  a  Library  as  an  essential  part 
of  the  equipment  of  the  Academy  was  early  recog- 
nized.    During  the  administration  of  President 

[81] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Taylor  lecture  courses  were  instituted,  the  pro- 
ceeds from  which  were  used  for  the  purchase  of 
books  and  other  material  for  the  Library.  Among 
well-known  speakers  who  gave  character  to  these 
courses  of  lectures  were  Hon.  Stewart  L.  Wood- 
ford, Hon.  Chauncey  M.  Depew  and  John  Fiske. 
Subsequently  through  the  efforts  of  a  member  of 
the  faculty  various  sums  were  contributed  by 
friends  and  collected  from  several  entertainments 
amounting  to  $1000.  This  has  become  a  perma- 
nent Library  Fund,  one-half  of  it  available  for 
the  use  of  the  Academy  and  one-half  for  the  Col- 
lege Library. 

From  the  beginning  of  its  history  the  Adelphi 
Academy  made  the  physical  development  of  its 
pupils  one  of  its  most  prominent  features.  Presi- 
dent Taylor  was  in  hearty  sympathy  with  this 
movement  and  in  1875  invited  Mr.  Avon  C.  Burn- 
ham,  a  well-known  instructor  in  athletics,  to  take 
charge  of  this  department.  Under  his  direction 
a  number  of  improvements  were  made  in  the  gym- 
nasium and  a  larger  variety  of  exercises  was  intro- 
duced.   He  brought  with  him  Ashburton  S.  Lewis. 

Hundreds  of  Adelphians  will  recall  Mr.  Lewis, 
who  for  thirty-nine  years  was  the  Adelphi  accom- 
panist for  gymnastics,  and  regret  to  hear  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  October  7,  1914.  For  accu- 
racy, skill  and  musical  taste,  he  could  not  be  ex- 
celled. Dr.  Anderson,  now  director  of  gj^mnas- 
tics  at  Yale  University,  says  that  he  owes  much 

[82] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

of  his  success  to  his  seven  years'  association  with 
Mr.  Lewis.  It  will  be  remembered  of  him  that 
he  was  the  man  always  at  his  post,  ready  to  ful- 
fill his  duty  under  all  circumstances.  The  memory 
of  his  character  sweetens  the  loss  now  felt  by  a 
large  circle. 

In  1884  William  G.  Anderson,  M.D.,  was  made 
director  of  this  department.  His  appointment 
prepared  the  way  for  a  more  scientific  treatment 
of  the  subject  and  for  the  employment  of  methods 
adapted  to  secure  the  uniform  physical  develop- 
ment of  students.  Several  years  later  Dr.  Ander- 
son was  invited  to  become  Director  of  Physical 
Education  at  Yale  University,  where  he  still 
remains. 

The  founder  of  the  Academy  included  in  its  cur- 
riculum instruction  and  training  in  art.  Instruc- 
tion in  free-hand  drawing  was  given  twice  a  week 
in  both  the  Preparatory  and  Academic  Depart- 
ments. Special  courses  in  drawing  from  the  cast, 
and  in  painting  in  oil  and  water  colors  were  pro- 
vided for  those  who  desired  to  engage  in  a  pro- 
fessional study  of  art.  F.  T.  L.  Boyle  was  in 
charge  from  1872.  In  1875  the  Trustees  purchased 
from  the  Brooklyn  Academy  of  Design  a  number 
of  full  and  half-sized  statues,  large  and  small 
torsos,  busts,  masks,  etc. 

The  Academy  of  Design  was  founded  in  1868 
with  forty-five  members:  three  survive,  one  of 
whom  is  Professor  Whittaker. 

[83  1 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Among  the  articles  purchased  was  the  statue 
of  Henry  Clay  now  in  the  Adelphi  Library.  This 
statue  was  once  the  property  of  Harriet  Beecher 
Stowe.  She  gave  it  to  her  brother,  Henry  Ward 
Beecher,  who  carried  it  in  his  arms  and  presented 
it  to  the  Academy  of  Design.  The  studio  was 
further  enriched  by  the  generous  gift  of  Mr.  John 
Gibb,  one  of  the  Trustees. 

In  1875  Professor  John  B.  Whittaker  was  in- 
vited to  take  charge  of  this  Department,  of  which 
he  still  continues  to  be  the  director.  His  wife  was 
for  many  years  his  assistant.  The  Adelphi  Art 
School  stood  at  the  head  of  all  similar  schools 
throughout  the  city  and  is  still  noted  for  the  excel- 
lence of  its  work.  Its  annual  exhibitions  have  been 
largely  attended  not  only  by  the  general  public  but 
by  artists  both  in  and  out  of  the  city.  It  has  had 
no  small  share  in  developing  a  taste  for  genuine 
art  in  this  community. 

Dr.  Taylor  brought  to  the  Adelphi  as  teacher  of 
Penmanship  Delwin  F.  Brown,  whose  pen  and  ink 
work  was  well  and  widely  known.  His  copy  of  the 
Lord's  Prayer  received  a  medal  from  the  World's 
Fair.  It  was  sold  for  $10,000.  After  the  death 
of  the  owner,  Mr.  Brown  purchased  it  for  $6,000. 
It  perished  in  the  Adelphi  fire  of  1889. 

The  efforts  of  Prof.  Osborn  and  Dr.  Abernethy 
for  the  library  are  worthy  of  special  notice.  They 
inaugurated  a  course  of  valuable  lectures.  Later 
Mr.  Osborn  collected  for  a  fund  in  memory  of  Mr. 

[84] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Webster,  the  irterest  of  which  is  expended  for  the 
library.  He  also  assisted  materially  in  procuring 
funds  for  the  decoration  of  the  walls  of  the  library. 

Mention  should  be  made  of  the  Hymn  Book  pre- 
pared by  Dr.  Taylor  and  Dr.  True,  the  musical 
director.  The  collection  was  of  great  merit.  All 
the  work  was  done  by  the  two  gentlemen  with  an 
electric  pen. 

During  this  administration  a  new  laboratory  was 
fitted  up  by  the  munificence  of  Messrs.  John  Gibb 
and  H.  W.  Wheeler.  By  a  very  liberal  donation 
from  Mr.  Charles  Pratt,  the  apparatus  for  the 
Chemical  and  Philosophical  Departments  was 
greatly  increased. 


I  86] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  ADELPHI  ACADEMY 
DURING  THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF 
ALBERT  CORNELIUS  PERKINS,  Ph.D.,  1883-1892 


THE    ADMINISTRATION     OF    ALBERT 
CORNELIUS   PERKINS,    Ph.D.,    1883-1892 

OR.  PERKIXS  came  from  Phillips  Acad- 
emy at  Exeter,  New  Hampshire,  and  en- 
tered upon  his  work  with  great  enthusiasm. 

Upon  his  arrival  in  the  city  he  identified  himself 
with  the  Central  Congregational  Church.  He  was 
a  deacon  and  member  of  the  Prudential  Committee. 
He  was  also  much  interested  in  home  and  foreign 
missions  and  an  efficient  worker  in  the  Sunday 
School.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  in- 
fluential Congregational  Club  of  this  city,  serving 
a  term  as  president  and  afterward  as  a  member 
of  the  Executive  Committee.  He  also  took  a  deep 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  city  and  was  at  one 
time  a  member  of  the  Civil  Service  Commission. 

Early  in  his  life  here  he  delivered  a  lecture  on 
Literature,  of  which  the  Eagle  said:  "The  au- 
dience was  one  of  the  largest  that  ever  attended 
a  lecture  at  the  Academy.  The  lecturer  appeared 
before  a  Brooklyn  audience  for  the  first  time.  His 
clear  thoughts  expressed  in  a  masterly  manner, 
his  magnetic  elocution  and  clear  delivery  captivated 
his  auditors,  who  frequently  gave  vent  to  their 
appreciation  of  the  sentiments  of  the  lecture  by 
hearty  applause." 

Dr.  Perkins  was  fortunate  in  his  choice  of  a 
superintendent  for  the  Elementary  Department. 
Arthur  C.  Wadsworth  was  a  graduate  of  Bridge- 

[89] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

water  Normal  School,  a  man  of  advanced  educa- 
tional ideas  and  of  genial  sympathetic  tempera- 
ment. He  appreciated  the  skillful  teacher  and 
frequently  aided  the  weak  one  to  become  strong. 
He  holds  degrees  from  Harvard  and  Wooster 
Universities  and  is  Principal  of  the  Russell  School 
in  Cambridge,  Mass. 

The  Brooklyn  Bridge  had  opened  in  May,  1883, 
and  the  growth  of  the  city  was  very  rapid.  Two 
thousand  houses  were  built  in  the  ensuing  year. 

August  29,  1886,  occurred  the  death  of  Harold 
Dollner,  trustee  and  for  fourteen  years  treasurer. 
Mr.  Dollner  was  a  native  of  Copenliagen,  Den- 
mark. For  particular  service  rendered  the  Danish 
government,  he  was  made  a  Knight  of  the  Danne- 
broga,  one  of  the  oldest  knighthoods  in  Christen- 
dom, being  first  instituted  in  the  year  1219.  Later 
he  received  the  Cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor. 

He  was  educated  for  the  ministry,  but  having 
no  taste  for  it,  he  ran  away,  and  with  the  instinct 
of  his  countrymen,  chose  the  sea.  In  Boston,  under 
the  wonderful  preaching  of  Father  Taylor,  he  de- 
termined to  become  a  Christian  and  soon  joined 
the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  he  remained  a  faith- 
ful member  until  his  death. 

Reaching  New  York,  he  took  the  first  situation 
which  he  could  find,  that  of  porter.  In  a  short 
time  he  was  a  partner  in  the  firm  which  he  served 
and  soon  afterward  organized  the  large  house  of 

[90] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

DoUner,  Potter  &  Company,  which  in  its  line  was 
for  many  years  one  of  the  first  in  the  city. 

Under  a  brusque  manner,  he  concealed  the  kind- 
est of  hearts.  Whenever  a  teacher  asked  for  an 
advance  of  his  salary,  he  invariably  replied,  "No, 
we  must  keep  the  rule."  Soon  after,  he  would 
instruct  the  bookkeeper  to  assure  herself  that  it 
was  necessary,  and  if  so,  to  advance  it. 

He  never  quite  conquered  the  intricacy  of  the 
English  language.  The  pupils  were  always  amused 
to  hear  him  exhort  them  to  urge  their  parents  to 
"pay  their  pills." 

He  fulfilled  the  duties  of  Treasurer  and  also  of 
Chairman  of  the  Building  Committee  with  fidelity 
and  intelligent  interest. 

Eighteen  eighty-eight  was  a  year  long  to  be  re- 
membered. March  12th  came  the  blizzard,  bury- 
ing the  city  nearly  out  of  sight.  The  Adelphi 
record  of  that  remarkable  day  was :  Of  the  twenty- 
one  gentlemen  of  the  Board  of  Teachers,  nineteen 
were  present.  Of  the  twenty-two  ladies,  fourteen 
(including  every  Academic  Grade  teacher)  thought 
valor  the  better  part  of  discretion  and  reported 
for  duty.  The  Collegiate  Department  had  an  at- 
tendance of  33  1-3%  ;  the  Academic,  20  5-6% ;  the 
Preparatory,  15%.  Tuesday,  March  13th,  one 
pupil  was  taught  at  the  Academy. 

This  was  the  year  when  the  Adelphi  colors  were 
adopted,  after  many  fierce  fights.  The  "Brown 
and  Gold"  are  now  known  from  Maine  to  Florida. 

[91] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Though  the  Girls'  High  School  was  opened  in 
1886  and  the  Boys'  High  School  in  1892,  the  at- 
tendance at  the  Adelphi  did  not  suffer  materially. 

The  nine  years  of  Dr.  Perkins'  stay  were  of 
unusual  interest.  The  Library  was  arranged  and 
catalogued  in  1891.  It  had  700  volumes;  it  now 
has  16,000.  Fortunately,  we  have  had  but  one 
librarian,  Mabel  Farr.  In  1888,  Mr.  Pratt  added 
to  his  generous  benefactions,  of  many  of  which  he 
allowed  no  record  to  be  kept,  the  sum  of  $160,000, 
with  which  the  building  fronting  on  Clifton  place 
was  erected.  A  builder  in  the  city  (who  did  not 
build  it)  said  that  it  was  undoubtedly  the  best 
building  in  Brooklyn  and  that  he  could  see  no  rea- 
son why  it  might  not  stand  a  thousand  years. 

Ten  thousand  invitations  were  issued  for  the 
opening,  which  occurred  February  18,  1889.  The 
ceremonies  were  imposing.  The  most  brilliant 
speakers  of  the  city  graced  the  occasion.  At  this 
time,  removed  by  only  a  quarter-century,  without 
an  exception,  donor,  presiding  officers,  and  speak- 
ers, all  have  '^gone  over  to  the  majority."  From 
February  until  the  following  December  we  had 
what  Mr.  Pratt  called  "an  ideal  family  school." 
On  the  18th  of  December  there  rang  out  on  the 
crisp  winter  air,  the  cry  of  ^Tire."  The  cruel 
flames  ran  riot  in  the  old  building,  but  halted  at 
the  thick  walls  of  the  new  one.  To  this  day,  we 
have  not  even  a  conjecture  as  to  the  cause  of  the 
fire.     A  newspaper  reporter  hastened  to  say  that 

[92] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

it  started  in  a  box  of  waste  paper  in  the  cellar ;  when 
the  debris  was  cleared  away  the  box  was  not  even 
scorched. 

One  might  think  that  Mr.  Wheeler,  Chairman 
of  the  Building  Committee,  who  had  given  so  much 
time  and  thought  to  the  new  building,  would  be 
utterly  discouraged.  He  and  Mr.  Gibb,  the  Treas- 
urer, walked  quietly  in  with  their  gloves  in  their 
hands  and  began  to  plan  at  once  what  to  do  with 
the  school.  Then  came  Mr.  Pratt  and  the  matter 
was  easily  adjusted.  The  Pratt  Institute  had 
opened  a  Kindergarten  at  242  Vanderbilt  Avenue, 
and  Adelphi  took  the  building.  Mr.  Horace  E. 
Dresser  was  instrumental  in  founding  the  first 
Kindergarten  in  Brooklyn.  It  was  in  1884,  dur- 
ing Mayor  Low's  administration.  The  Adelphi 
was  among  the  pioneers  in  this  branch  of  educa- 
tion. 

Now  that  Kindergarten  teachers  rival  in  num- 
bers the  leaves  of  Vallambrosa,  it  seems  strange  that 
we  could  not  find  one  here,  but  were  compelled  to 
send  to  the  "Fountain  of  Culture,"  the  city  where 

"Life  isn't  a  fever,  it's  more  like  a  chill 
And  the  Gateway  of  Heaven  is  called  Beacon  Hill." 

Miss  Nelhe  A.  Vose  was  our  first  Kindergarten 
teacher.  We  took  five  pupils  from  Pratt  and  added 
sixteen.  Miss  Vose  taught  them  like  a  * 'faithful, 
furious  angel." 

There  is  a  legend  at  Mount  Holyoke  College  that 

[93] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

when  Miss  Whitman,  a  principal,  left,  Dr.  Hawks, 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  irreverently 
called  by  the  girls  *Tater  Accipitres,"  rose  in  the 
diningroom  at  breakfast  and  in  his  ponderous  tones 
said,  "Miss  Whitman  has  left  us.  She  looked  on 
a  man  and  she  loved  him.  Let  us  pray."  We  had 
a  similar  fate  with  Miss  Vose. 

After  an  extensive  search  for  someone  to  ex- 
pound the  sphere,  cube  and  cylinder,  and  to  exalt 
the  name  of  Froebel,  we  found  Mary  C.  Dietrich. 

After  two  years,  she,  too,  "looked  on  a  man  and 
she  loved  him"  but  remained  in  charge  of  the  Kin- 
dergarten until  she  had  completed  five  years  of 
service.  She  was  then  succeeded  by  Miss  Anna  E. 
Harvey,  who  has  happily  remained  until  this  day. 

The  utmost  good  feeling  prevailed.  The  halls 
and  Library  were  filled  with  desks.  Gymnastics 
and  recesses  were  given  up.  There  was  but  one 
business  office.  It  is  a  remarkable  and  interesting 
fact  that  there  was  less  sickness  in  the  school  than 
usual. 

Every  morning  the  Preparatory  Department 
assembled  in  the  corridor,  and  the  classes  marched 
down,  each  with  its  teacher. 

In  November,  1890,  the  building  was  ready  for 
use.  It  was  practically  the  same  as  before,  except 
that  the  mansard  roof  had  been  ordered  off  and  that 
the  Chapel  was  greatly  changed.  Formerly  the 
platform  had  been  at  the  south  end;  it  was  moved 
to  the  west  side.    Nothing  is  left  of  the  old  Chapel 

[94] 

V 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

but  the  doors  at  the  north  end,  the  pulpit  and  the 
pictures. 

The  Alumni  Bulletin  of  January,  1889,  said: 
"The  new  gymnasium  is  200  feet  long  by  50  feet 
wide,  and  is  the  largest  school  gymnasium  in  the 
United  States." 

The  special  committee  appointed  by  the  Massa- 
chusetts Board  of  Education  to  investigate  and  re- 
port on  the  matter  of  school  gymnastics,  in  their 
printed  report  placed  the  Adelphi  at  the  head  of 
all  other  schools  in  this  respect. 

May  4,  1891,  the  whole  conmiunity  was  startled 
by  the  tidings  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Charles  Pratt. 
His  name  was  the  first  to  be  written  as  Treasurer. 
For  seventeen  years  it  was  signed  as  President  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  on  all  diplomas  and  certifi- 
cates. It  was  so  written  that  a  stately  building 
stands  to  perpetuate  it,  and  to  promise  for  the 
Adelphi  a  future  as  permanent  and  strong  as  the 
walls  of  granite  so  generously  provided.  His  name 
is  written  here  in  letters  which  cannot  "be  valued 
with  pure  gold."  We  share  the  pride  which  all 
the  city  feels  in  his  great  work  hard  by  us  (the  Pratt 
Institute)  but  we  never  forget  that  the  Adelphi  was 
his  first  love. 

Very  soon  Adelphi's  cup  of  sorrow  filled  again. 
On  the  morning  of  May  24th  came  the  tidings  that 
Miss  Leggett,  Superintendent  of  the  Preparatory 
Department,  had  been  found  in  her  room,  sleeping 
the  sleep  which  knows  no  waking  here. 

[95] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Among  the  many  tributes  to  her  memory  we 
select  the  following : 

"Her  many  friends  will  recall  the  inspiring  and  refin- 
ing effect  of  her  presence;  the  sweet,  serene  face  that 
spoke  of  inward  peace  and  trust;  the  low  voice;  the 
luminous  eyes,  that  never  erred  in  reading  character; 
the  fitly  chosen  words;  the  swift  step;  the  positive  opin- 
ions that  never  gave  offense.  It  was  well  said  of  her 
that  gentleness  and  strength  were  remarkably  united  in 
her  character.  Retaining  her  faculties  to  her  last  hour, 
she  never  'grew  old.'  Of  her  intellectual  gifts  too  little 
has  been  known.  She  was  too  much  of  a  woman  ever  to  be 
thought  of  as  a  mere  scholar,  but  scholar  she  was  and 
liberally  educated,  though  in  this,  as  in  all  else,  she  held 
her  own  attainments  lightly.  She  was  a  tireless  reader 
of  the  choicest  literature  and  any  written  word  of  hers 
might  serve  as  a  model.  Her  marvellous  interest  in  chil- 
dren, her  almost  maternal  affection,  her  tireless  efforts  for 
their  comfort  and  happiness,  have  insured  her  a  lasting 
place  in  the  memory  of  Adelphi  pupils  and  earned  for 
her  the  enduring  gratitude  of  the  parents  whose  chil- 
dren have  felt  the  touch  of  her  hand.  It  seemed  espe- 
cially fitting  that  Miss  Leggett  should  be  borne  to  her 
last  resting  place  on  Children's  Day.  She  sleeps  in  the 
beautiful  burial  ground  of  the  Friends,  which  lies  within 
our  matchless  park,  and  as  loving  hands  were  heaping  a 
wealth  of  flowers  over  her  brave,  tender  heart,  the  air 
was  filled  with  the  melody  of  children's  voices." 

In  1892  the  educational  world  was  in  a  state  of 
unrest.  A  great  desire  for  what  is  called  pro- 
gressive teaching  developed.  Pedagogy  loomed 
high  on  the  horizon. 

[96]  . 


MR.  AND  MRS.  WHITTAKER 


CHARLOTTE  MORRILL 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

All  rapid  railway  trains  are  driven  by  young 
men,  and  all  rapid  educational  trains  require  the 
nerve  and  strength  of  young  men.  Dr.  Perkins, 
therefore,  dropped  the  reins  of  government  into 
younger  hands. 

During  Dr.  Perkins'  administration  the  register 
of  students  attained  its  largest  number,  reporting 
1,126  in  1891. 


[97] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  ADELPHI  ACADEMY 
DURING  THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF 
JOHN  SAMUEL  GROMBIE,  Ph.D.,  1892-1893 


THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  JOHN  SAMUEL 
GROMBIE,  Ph.D.,  1892-1893 

OR.  CROMBIE  was  of  New  England  par- 
entage, though  he  was  born  at  Pontiac, 
Michigan,  June  19,  1854.  He  was  gradu- 
ated with  honors  from  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan in  1887.  When  called  to  Brooklyn,  he  was 
the  head  of  the  Minneapolis  Central  High  School. 

It  was  at  once  discovered  that  Dr.  Crombie  had 
great  executive  ability  and  extreme  kindness  of 
heart.  When  word  came  to  him  of  the  illness  of  a 
pupil,  he  went  at  once  to  the  home  or  wrote  a  note. 
Those  notes  were  cherished  for  years. 

The  Academy  prospered  during  his  administra- 
tion and  the  trustees  looked  forward  to  years  of 
prosperity. 

Fate  had  decreed  that  his  guiding  hand  should 
be  soon  withdrawn.  He  was  writing  an  exhaustive 
thesis  of  700  pages  on  the  Republic  of  Switzerland. 
He  completed  the  work  on  February  4  and  left 
the  Brooklyn  Library  with  his  manuscript  at  five 
o'clock.  It  was  a  chill,  raw  day  and  he  took  a 
severe  cold.  At  his  dinner  table  he  was  taken 
alarmingly  ill  and  remained  in  bed  nearly  a  month. 
He  left  Brooklyn  on  March  3rd  for  Monticello, 
staying  there  through  one  month.  He  returned 
to  Adelphi  and  was  present  at  an  alumni  meeting 
held  April  4th,  where  he  made  a  felicitous  speech, 

[101] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

but  very  soon  was  ordered  by  his  physician  to 
Monticello,  where  he  died  on  April  16,  1893. 

His  funeral  was  held  in  the  Lafayette  Avenue 
Presbyterian  Church,  Wednesday,  April  19,  and 
was  largely  attended.  The  trustees  and  members 
of  the  Academy  marched  down  in  a  body. 

Dr.  Crombie  had  expected  to  receive  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Philosophy  from  the  University  of 
Minnesota  in  June  of  '93.  This  would  have  been 
a  rare  honor,  as  the  University  is  very  chary  of 
conferring  that  degree,  having  given  it  but  once 
before  1893.  In  June,  after  the  other  degrees  were 
conferred.  President  Northrup  advanced  to  the 
front  of  the  platform,  dropped  his  Latin,  and  with 
somewhat  broken  voice  said  that  on  the  records  the 
name  of  John  Samuel  Crombie  would  be  written 
as  a  Doctor  of  Philosophy. 

Notwithstanding  the  attendant  gloom,  the  school 
was  so  well  organized  that  the  work  went  smoothly 
on.  The  catalogue  shows  the  number  in  attendance 
1,032  and  the  number  of  graduates  25. 


[102] 


THE   HISTORY  OF  ADELPHI  ACADEMY 
DURING    THE    ADMINISTRATION    OF 

CHARLES   HERBERT   LEVERMORE,  Ph.D., 

1893-1909 


THE   ADMINISTRATION  OF  CHARLES 
HERBERT  LEVERMORE,  Ph.D.,  1893-1909 

OR.  LEVERMORE,  a  graduate  of  Yale 
University,  Class  of  1879,  and  Ph.D.  of 
Johns  Hopkins,  1886,  came  to  Adelphi 
from  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology. 
November  18,  1895,  Hon.  Timothy  L.  Woodruff 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
On  the  sixteenth  of  December  he  was  elected  to 
the  Presidency.  April  11,  1902,  he  announced  that 
Mr.  John  D.  Rockefeller  had  promised  to  give  to 
Adelphi  the  sum  of  One  hundred  and  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars  on  condition  that  the  friends  of 
Adelphi  should  raise  an  equal  sum.  On  the  first 
day  of  May,  less  than  three  weeks  after  the 
original  announcement,  Lieut.  Governor  Wood- 
ruff was  able  to  report  that  the  requisite  sum  of 
money  had  been  subscribed,  thereby  insuring  to 
Adelphi  the  gift  of  Two  hundred  and  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars.  One  can  hardly  imagine  a  more  bril- 
liant campaign.  Governor  Woodruff  was  in  the 
height  of  his  popularity.  He  took  up  the  matter 
by  himself.  Not  a  penny  of  expense  to  the  Adel- 
phi was  incurred.  About  twelve  thousand  dollars 
was  subscribed  by  Adelphi  students  and  alumni. 
For  the  first  time  in  its  history  Adelphi  was  free 
from  debt.  Mr.  Woodruff  resigned  from  the 
Presidency  in  December  of  1908  but  remained  a 

[105] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

member  of  the  Board  until  his  greatly  lamented 
death,  which  occurred  October  12,  1913. 

Dr.  Levermore  noticed  the  great  lack  of  Song 
Books  for  schools  and  undertook  the  task  of  pro- 
viding them.  The  Song-Book,  the  Abridged  Song- 
Book  and  the  Students'  Hymnal  testify  to  his  skill 
and  taste  as  a  compiler  and  editor.  They  have 
been  very  widely  adopted. 

I  am  greatly  indebted  to  the  Doctor  for  allow- 
ing me  to  make  copious  selections  from  his  Report 
to  the  Trustees  in  1894.  It  defines  very  clearly 
his  general  plan  which  was  faithfully  carried  out. 

It  has  been  my  endeavor  herein  to  make  a  brief  and 
concise  inventory  of  the  changes  which  have  been  made  in 
various  directions  in  the  Academy  during  the  year  1894, 
for  the  purpose  of  improvement. 

The  matter  which  earliest  demanded  attention  in  the 
fall  of  1893,  was  the  character  of  some  of  the  text-books 
used,  especially  in  the  classes  in  History  and  English. 
It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  in  these  subjects  the  books 
which  have  been  made  the  bases  of  study  have  undergone 
a  revolution.  The  most  modern  text-books  in  History 
have  been  introduced  into  the  Academic  grades,  and  in 
conjunction  with  them,  the  best  historical  atlases  have 
been  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  pupils. 

The  study  of  English  has  been  drawn  away  from  the 
old-fashioned  text-book  and  formal  grammar  and  directed 
as  much  as  possible  upon  the  best  models  of  English 
Literature. 

A  great  deal  of  time  and  careful  thought  has  been  de- 
voted to  the  preparation  of  a  list  of  books  for  use  in  the 
study  of  English  Grammar,  Reading  and  Literature.    .    . 

[106] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

and  the  most  beneficial  results  have  been  already  apparent 
wherever  these  new  books  have  been  used  in  the  classes. 
The  substitution  of  masterpieces  of  English  Literature 
or  of  interesting  historical  or  geographical  tales  for  the 
old-fashioned  reading  books  has  resulted  in  kindling  in 
the  minds  of  the  children  a  flame  of  interest,  and  in  cul- 
tivating a  real  fondness  for  good  reading. 

Nowhere  has  the  effect  of  this  new  English  instruction 
been  more  noticeable  than  in  the  library  and  reading-room, 
which  has  been  used  this  year  as  never  before  by  the  chil- 
dren of  the  Academic  grades. 

A  beginning  was  made  early  in  the  fall  towards  what 
will  become  in  the  new  course  of  study  the  uniform  intro- 
duction of  the  study  of  modern  languages  into  the  lower 
Academic  grades.  The  desired  beginning  was  secured  by 
requiring  the  study  of  German  in  the  present  5th  and  6th 
grades.  These  classes  were  placed  under  the  charge  of 
Miss  Mabel  Foster,  who  has  shown  a  great  deal  of  spirit 
in  the  work  and  has  carried  the  pupils  along  very  suc- 
cessfully. 

It  is  believed  that  a  real  improvement  was  made  in  the 
study  of  Mathematics  in  the  Academy  by  condensing 
the  subjects  of  study  under  the  title  of  Arithmetic  and 
by  a  consequent  shortening  of  the  time  devoted  to  that 
topic.  This  made  it  possible  to  plan  for  the  introduction 
of  Geometry  at  a  much  earlier  period  than  heretofore, 
and  for  the  coordination  of  that  study  with  Arithmetic 
upon  a  much  more  systematic  plan. 

The  study  of  Geometry  was  begun  by  the  Seventh 
Grade  during  the  latter  half  of  this  year  immediately 
after  the  class  had  finished  Arithmetic.  This  substitution 
of  Geometry  for  Algebra  as  the  study  to  follow  Arith- 
metic has  proved  to  be  a  judicious  action. 

Geometry  has  been  taught  so  far  as  possible  in  a  prac- 
tical manner.     The  instruments  of  drawing  were  placed  in 

[107] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

the  students'  hands  and  they  have  been  encouraged  to 
demonstrate  for  themselves  the  simple  truths  of  Plane 
Geometry  as  fast  as  they  were  able  to  understand  the 
necessary  data. 

Through  the  liberality  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  there 
has  been  a  great  improvement  in  the  equipment  of  the 
Academic  Department.  .  .  .  The  expenditure  of  the 
sum  generously  voted  by  the  Board  has  given  an  equip- 
ment for  illustrating  and  teaching  Natural  Science,  His- 
tory and  Geograph}^  such  as  very  few  schools  can  boast 
of.  The  new  maps,  and  charts,  and  pictures  procured 
from  Germany  and  France  were  displayed  on  Founders' 
Day  in  six  large  recitation  rooms,  which  were  filled  to 
overflowing.  The  exhibition  was  visited  and  studied  by 
many  professional  educators,  as  well  as  by  the  patrons 
of  the  Academy;  it  aroused  much  interest  and  elicited 
strong  expressions  of  approval. 

The  sum  voted  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  also  procured 
a  valuable  set  of  models  of  the  human  body  for  use  in 
the  class  of  Physiology,  a  large  number  of  books  for  the 
library  which  were  much  needed  in  the  work  of  the  year, 
and  a  considerable  improvement  in  the  Gymnasium  in  the 
laying  out  of  a  handball  court,  which  has  proven  to  be  the 
most  popular  and  useful  feature  of  the  Gymnasium  equip- 
ment. 

In  addition,  the  Mathematical  department  was  pro- 
vided with  a  complete  set  of  new  instruments  for  use  in 
surveying,  and  this  has  given  to  the  classes  in  this  de- 
partment a  very  decided  impetus  throughout  the  year. 

Also  the  very  best  series  of  German  historical  wall 
maps  was  secured  for  the  use  of  the  classes  in  the  Col- 
legiate department. 

A  great  deal  of  time  and  thought  has  been  given  by 
the  Principal  to  improving  the  study  of  Geography  and  a 
beginning  has  been  made  towards  basing  the  teaching  of 

[108] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Geography  upon  inductive  methods.  The  maps  have  be- 
come the  text-books  in  the  class  and  the  subject  has  been 
handled  by  the  teachers  with  full  reference  to  the  con- 
nection between  Geography  and  History  on  the  one  side, 
and  Geography  and  Physics  on  the  other. 

The  improved  spirit  among  the  students  has  been 
shown  by  the  formation  and  successful  maintenance  of  a 
Debating  Society.  .  .  .  Not  only  in  this  organization  but 
also  in  the  athletic  organizations  of  the  students  there 
has  been  throughout  the  year  a  very  desirable  increase 
of  confidence  among  the  scholars — confidence  in  the  Acad- 
emy and  pride  in  their  own  achievement  in  it. 

A  number  of  applications  from  young  women  who 
wished  to  be  admitted  to  our  Kindergarten  as  pupil  teach- 
ers drew  attention  to  the  possibility  of  employing  facilities 
of  the  Academy  in  other  departments  for  the  support  of  a 
kindergarten  training  class.  This  seemed  to  afford  the 
best  method  of  securing  an  ample  force  of  assistants  in 
our  kindergarten,  and  the  Board  approved  of  the  pro- 
posal. A  class  of  young  ladies,  strictly  limited  in  num- 
ber, has  been  diligently  at  work  throughout  the  year  and 
another  class  to  follow  them  next  year  is  already  assured. 

Since  1895  the  Normal  School  for  Kindergartners  (now 
a  branch  of  Adelphi  College)  have  been  fortunate  in 
having  Miss  Anna  E.  Harvey  as  leader.  In  1915  460 
had  been  graduated,  many  of  whom  are  doing  excellent 
work  as  kindergarten  teachers. 

The  most  considerable  step  forward  taken  by  the 
Academy  as  a  whole  during  this  year  has  been  due  to 
the  liberality  of  the  corporation  in  beginning  the  pur- 
chase and  equipment  of  a  playing-field.  Undoubtedly  the 
Academy  will  profit  by  the  interest  which  the  playing- 
field  excites  in  many  of  the  Alumni,  but  the  greatest  ad- 
vantage will  arise  from  the  interest  among  the  boys  of 
Brooklyn,  provided  that  the  field  can  be  equipped  with 

[109] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 


reasQnable  promptitude  and  that  our  pupils  can  be  seen 
enjoying  the  facilities  afforded  by  their  own  grounds. 

The  Adelphi  Field  was  opened  in  September  of  1895. 
It  was  situated  on  Park  Place  and  Classon  Avenue  and 
contained  thirty-four  lots  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $54,- 
400.  The  field  was  sold  in  1906  and  is  now  occupied  by 
thirty-four  houses.  Then  there  were  purchased  eighty- 
one  lots  at  Fulton  and  Crescent  Streets,  from  which 
twenty-seven  were  sold,  leaving  fifty-four  lots  valued  at 
$62,286.46. 

The  subject  which  occupied  the  most  time  and  atten- 
tion throughout  the  year  has  been  the  new  course  of 
study.  .  .  .  The  essential  features  are:  The  introduc- 
tion of  language  study  during  the  earlier  years;  the  im- 
provement in  the  order  of  mathematical  studies ;  the  close 
correlation  of  the  studies  of  History,  Geography  and 
Science,  and,  to  some  extent,  English;  the  making  of  the 
studies  of  History,  English  and  Science  continuous 
throughout  the  whole  course;  the  development  of  a  sys- 
tematic plan  of  physical  training;  and  the  introduction 
of  a  department  of  Natural  History  in  the  upper  grades. 

The  Principal  received  a  considerable  number  of  let- 
ters from  prominent  educators  expressing  their  approval 
of  this  course  of  study.  Mr.  Myron  J.  Scudder,  who  is 
one  of  the  two  Inspectors  of  Schools  attached  to  the  Uni- 
versity staff  in  the  Regents'  office  at  Albany,  states  that 
our  course  of  study  is  regarded  there  as  an  embodiment 
of  the  ideal.  Prof.  Cook,  the  eminent  philologist,  at  Yale, 
writes:  "Your  thoughtful  attention  to  the  subject  of 
English  is  very  gratifying  to  me."  A  number  of  Brook- 
lyn's most  prominent  educators  have  expressed  their 
hearty  approval  of  the  new  curriculum,  and  President 
G.  Stanley  Hall  of  Clark  University  sent  to  the  Academy 
an  expression  of  interest  and  congratulation.     Much  in- 

[110] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

teresting  and  valuable  comment  upon  the  new  curriculum 
was  obtained  from  President  Eliot  of  Harvard. 

The  system  of  half-yearly  promotions  which  had  pre- 
vailed from  1869  to  1883  was  revised  and  met  with  gen- 
eral favor. 

Manual  Training  and  Domestic  Science  were  intro- 
duced. Foreign  languages  found  a  place  in  the  Ele- 
mentary Grades.  Carriage  service  for  young  children 
was  introduced  and  a  restaurant  opened.  An  important 
and  greatly  valued  innovation  was  the  establishment  of 
the  class  adviser  system.  To  it  the  Adelphi  is  largely 
indebted. 

In  1871  Dr.  Sprague  said,  "I  anticipate  the  time 
when  there  will  be  a  great  University  here."  In 
every  administration  since,  the  matter  of  found- 
ing a  college  has  been  considered.  Dr.  Levermore 
had  the  courage  to  start  the  enterprise.  Like  all 
leaders  with  faith  and  enthusiasm  he  found  fol- 
lowers. As  a  result,  on  June  24,  1896,  Adelphi 
College  received  its  Charter  and  began  its  work 
with  the  two  upper  classes  of  the  Academy.  In 
1915  there  were  613  graduates.  In  addition  to  his 
labors  as  President  of  the  new  College  Dr.  Lever- 
more  carried  also  the  burden  of  the  Principalship 
of  the  Academy  until  1909. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Webster  in  1895  the  posi- 
tion of  Superintendent  of  the  Academic  Depart- 
ment remained  vacant  until  1899  when  Mr.  Horace 
H.  Howe  was  appointed.  He  served  with  rare 
fidelity  until  the  position  was  abolished.  He  re- 
mains as  Head  of  the  Department  of  Mathematics. 

[Ill] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Ernest  N.  Henderson  was  Superintendent  of 
the  Elementary  Department  from  1902  to  1906. 
He  is  now  Head  of  the  Department  of  Education 
in  Adelphi  College.  He  was  succeeded  by  Edwin 
C.  Broome  who  in  1909  was  called  to  the  Super- 
intendence of  Schools  in  Mt.  Vernon,  N.  Y. 

HAYDEN  W.  WHEELER 

October  28,  1904,  was  a  dark  day  in  the  history 
of  Adelphi,  for  then  occurred  the  death  of  one  of 
Adelphi's  most  faithful  friends,  Hayden  W. 
Wheeler.  He  was  a  trustee  for  twenty-seven  years, 
for  eighteen  years  in  charge  of  the  buildings  and 
grounds  and  for  eleven  years  the  Treasurer. 

It  was  under  his  direct  supervision  and  largely 
aided  by  his  generous  contribution  that  the  eastern 
wing  of  the  Academy  was  built.  After  the  fire 
he  superintended  the  restoration  of  the  buildings. 
His  was  the  life  of  a  business  man,  and  his  duties 
in  the  world  were  many,  but  with  it  all  he  gave 
a  great  part  of  his  time  to  Adelphi.  There  was 
hardly  a  day  that  he  was  not  seen  among  us.  The 
influence  that  he  gave  the  spiritual  part  of  Adelphi, 
the  real  life  of  the  school,  will  never  be  forgotten. 

With  exhaustless  patience  and  dauntless  cour- 
age he  fought  many  Adelphi  battles  through  to 
victory.  In  1889  the  trustees  presented  him  with 
a  silver  loving  cup  bearing  the  inscription,  "To 

[112] 


, :  ,;-^vM^ 

|HHP^'^'  ''d 

P^ 

5i[  "4 ' 

%    ^^mj    i: 

^H^^^^^rM^H 

lll^slfci 

j^MSW 

-■.-;ife  '-- 

^^^*JJ 

"^v  -, 

gf^   .  iOM 

;:^^^   ^ 

^Q^C'  t^v 

^'^:J^^-    ■: 

^j 

■■■^ 

History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Hayden  W.  Wheeler,  from  his  associate  members 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Adelphi  Acad- 
emy, Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  1890,  Et  Decus  et  Pretium 
Recti." 

Mr.  Wheeler's  last  great  work  for  Adelphi  was 
that  of  installing  the  elevator.  The  labor  of  secur- 
ing the  requisite  funds  and  of  giving  personal  at- 
tention to  every  detail  was  cheerfully  accepted. 

Mr.  Wheeler  was  everywhere  and  at  all  times, 
noble,  true  and  unselfish.  He  did  his  full  duty 
always  like  a  man — lived  every  day  like  a  hero.  If 
ever  man  won  the  verdict  ''Well  done,  good  and 
faithful  servant,"  he  won  it. 


113] 


THE  HISTORY  OF  ADELPHI  ACADEMY,  1909— 
EUGENE    C.   ALDER,  M.A.,   PRINCIPAL 


THE  ADMINISTRATION   OF  EUGENE  G. 
ALDER,  M.A. 


m 


'HEX  the  venerable  and  widely-known  Dr. 
Magill,  President  of  Swarthmore  College, 
had  nearly  reached  fourscore  years,  he 
wrote  a  record  of  the  graduates.  He  emphasized 
that  he  should  not  include  any  who  had  not  been 
graduated  ten  years,  for  history  did  not  begin  until 
a  decade  had  passed.  Following  this  direction,  I 
hesitate  a  little  at  writing  in  1916  of  anything  oc- 
curring after  1909. 

At  that  date  an  important  change  was  made. 
The  office  of  Principal  was  restored  and  Mr.  Eu- 
gene C.  Alder  invited  to  assume  its  duties.  He  is 
a  graduate  of  Kansas  State  University,  holds 
Master's  degrees  from  that  University  and  Har- 
vard and  had  taught  with  pronounced  success  at 
Phillips  Exeter  Academy,  Exeter,  X.  H.,  and  at 
the  Penn  Charter  School  in  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Alder  began  his  work  by  thoroughly  ac- 
quainting himself  with  the  inside  needs  of  the 
school. 

The  Principal's  Office  was  transformed.  The 
walls  were  redecorated,  mahogany  furniture  and 
suitable  rugs  purchased.  An  attractive  room  now 
meets  the  eye  of  visitors. 

In  1909  our  girls  were  going  to  Pratt  Institute 
for  their  cooking  lessons.    Pratt  found  that  its  lab- 

[117] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

oratories  were  becoming  too  crowded  to  accommo- 
date us  longer  and  it  was  decided  to  start  a  Do- 
mestic Science  Department  of  our  own.  Two 
rooms  were  splendidly  equipped  for  this  purpose 
and  now  the  girls  can  complete  a  course  for  the 
diploma  of  the  Academy  by  taking  Household 
Science  work  in  place  of  Algebra  and  Geometry. 

In  1914  a  four-year  Business  and  Secretarial 
Course  was  opened,  which  includes  all  the  commer- 
cial branches  and  a  thorough  High  School  training 
beside.  The  demand  for  it  has  been  most  gratify- 
ing and  students  who  are  not  going  to  college  are 
finding  in  this  department  a  most  excellent  train- 
ing for  the  business  world. 

A  problem  which  confronted  Mr.  Alder  in  1909 
was  the  loss  of  students  between  the  Eighth  Grade 
and  the  First  Year  of  the  High  School.  The  diffi- 
culty was  lack  of  coordination  between  the  two  de- 
partments. Each  was  in  charge  of  a  Superinten- 
dent and  studies  were  not  sufficiently  correlated. 
There  is  now  no  break  in  the  course.  Students 
graduating  from  the  Grammar  School  in  Febru- 
ary are  immediately  transferred  to  the  High  School 
side.  Grammar  School  and  High  School  teachers 
interchange,  so  that  the  pupils  of  the  Eighth  Grade 
feel  somewhat  acquainted  with  the  other  Depart- 
ment before  they  enter  it.  This  is  rapidly  stopping 
what  was  a  serious  leakage. 

[118] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

The  Dramatic  Association  was  dead  in  1909  and 
had  to  be  revived.  The  same  thing  was  true  of  the 
Debating  Club.  Both  of  these  organizations  are 
now  in  good  working  order  and  the  play  entitled, 
"Mice  and  Men,"  produced  by  the  Dramatic  Asso- 
ciation in  1914  was  one  of  the  best  amateur  pro- 
ductions ever  given  by  the  school.  Besides  these 
two  clubs  there  is  a  Deutscher  Verein  for  the  Ger- 
man work,  a  Cercle  Fran9ais  for  the  French  work, 
a  Science  Club  for  the  students  in  Physics  and 
Chemistry,  and  two  successful  Glee  Clubs  trained 
by  Mr.  Thayer  and  Mr.  Lowe. 

Another  feature  of  the  school  that  has  developed 
materially  in  the  past  few  years  is  the  carriage  serv- 
ice for  children  in  the  Primary  Department.  This 
is  proving  of  great  convenience  to  Adelphi  patrons. 
In  1909  only  four  carriages  were  running,  carrying 
about  forty-five  children.  Now  there  are  seven  car- 
riages bringing  daily  ninety-five  pupils  to  the 
school. 

In  athletics  the  Adelphi  is  making  an  enviable 
record.  In  1909,  S.  Wood  McClave,  Jr.,  was  ap- 
pointed coach  of  the  football  team.  Just  a  glance 
at  the  following  tables  will  show  how  well  the  Adel- 
phi boys  under  his  training  have  upheld  the  Brown 
and  Gold  on  the  football  field  during  the  last  seven 
years. 


[  119  ] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Year               Total  Games  Games  Points  Points 

Games  Won  Lost  Won  Lost 

1909    6  6  0              90  11 

1910    5  3  2              64  16 

1911    7  5  2              89  40 

1912    7  7  0  176  13 

1913    7  5  2  129  46 

1914    7  7  0  131  23 

1915    6  5  1              74  18 


Total    .  .     45  38  7  753  167 

In  seven  years  only  seven  defeats. 

All  the  credit  for  these  victories  does  not  belong 
to  Mr.  McClave,  however.  Without  the  careful 
training  which  Dr.  Pettit  gives  the  younger  boys 
before  they  try  for  the  first  team,  the  above  record 
would  not  be  possible.  By  a  system  of  graded 
elevens,  '^Tiny  Tads,"  ^^Midgets,"  "Juniors," 
"Second  Team,"  etc.,  the  boys  are  toughened  for 
the  harder  games,  and  that  is  one  of  the  main  rea- 
sons why  the  school  can  accomplish  so  much  with 
a  small  squad.  And  yet  that  squad  is  growing. 
In  fact,  the  number  of  boys  in  the  school  is  in- 
creasing materially.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that 
at  the  present  time  there  are  almost  as  many  boys 
as  girls  in  the  Academy,  the  figures  being  319  to 
331. 

Mr.  Alder  at  once  interested  himself  in  the 
Alumni.  January  3,  1912,  he  called  them  together. 
Eight  hundred  of  the  thousand  graduates  gave 
hearty  response.    The  classes  assembled  under  their 

[120] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

class  numerals  done  in  the  beloved  Brown  and 
Gold.  Dr.  Levermore  greeted  the  graduates  in  a 
felicitous  manner.  An  historical  and  illustrated 
address  followed.  It  was  well  received.  The  Adel- 
phi Marching  Song  was  rendered  most  heartily. 
Mortimer  Byers,  '96,  discoursed  upon  Adelphi 
Athletics.  Principal  Alder  spoke  of  Adelphi 
Present,  asking  for  the  cooperation  of  the  Alumni 
in  the  work  to  be  done.  Harry  C.  Edwards  gave 
reminiscences  of  the  days  when  he  was  a  pupil, 
dwelling  upon  a  play  in  which  the  boys  were  dressed 
as  girls.  When  he  said,  "I  sang  a  song,"  there  was 
a  call,  "Sing  it  now."  When  he  replied  that  he 
could  not  without  a  chorus,  six  men  who  looked 
like  leading  citizens  marched  to  the  platform  and 
together  they  sang,  in  most  dramatic  manner, 
"Shall  We  Ever  be  Able  to  Fly?"  The  Eagle  said 
that  it  was  the  hit  of  the  evening. 

The  reunion  was  so  successful  that  another  was 
called  for  and  on  April  11,  1914,  the  Adelphi 
friends  rallied  again. 

The  Eagle's  account  follows: 

The  entertainment's  features,  presided  over  by  Charles 
J.  McDermott  as  master  of  ceremonies  included  a  speech 
of  welcome  by  Mr.  McDermott,  another  speech  by  Pro- 
fessor William  Clark  Peckham,  head  of  the  Physics  De- 
partment of  Adelphi  College,  for  thirty-nine  years  ac- 
tively connected  with  Adelphi,  and  a  third  by  Miss  Louise 
J.  Hedge  of  the  class  of  '87.  Miss  Winifred  Marshall, 
'05,  sang.  She  was  followed  by  yet  another  speaker,  Dr. 
William  G.  Anderson,  director  of  the  gymnasium  of  Yale 

[121] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

University,  who  was  director  of  athletics  in  Adelphi  Acad- 
emy from  1884  to  1892. 

A  pageant  followed,  depicting  the  development  of  ath- 
letics in  Adelphi  for  forty-five  years.  The  first  director, 
Truman  J.  Ellinwood,  is  still  living  in  Worcester,  84  years 
old  next  June.  He  found  it  impossible  to  be  present  at 
the  gathering  but  sent  a  word  of  greeting.  Avon  C. 
Burnham,  second  athletic  director  appeared,  however, 
and  with  Ashburton  S.  Lewis  as  accompanist  gave  an 
exhibition  drill  with  children  in  uniform  as  they  were 
thirty-nine  years  ago.  The  boys  were  in  white  trousers, 
red  jackets  and  blue  caps;  the  girls  wore  full  white  skirts 
and  blouses,  trimmed  with  red.  It  was  extremely  inter- 
esting to  watch  Mr.  Burnham,  still  as  active  as  in  1875, 
lead  the  children  through  the  most  intricate  drills  with 
the  hoops  and  in  the  game  of  Follow  My  Leader. 

From  1884  to  1892,  Dr.  Anderson  was  in  charge  of 
the  gymnasium  work,  and  to  represent  the  period  a  pic- 
ture of  the  celebrated  football  team  of  1890  was  thrown 
on  the  screen.  Delsarte  of  this  period  was  shown  by  Adel- 
phi girls  of  the  present  in  Delsarte  poses.  Depicting  the 
work  of  Dr.  Pettit's  administration  for  the  past  twenty- 
two  years,  basketball  in  1892  was  shown  with  two  bushel 
baskets  and  a  football  as  equipment;  the  boys  were 
dressed  in  gold  tights  with  sashes  of  brown. 

To  represent  the  present  period  the  Tiny  Tad  baseball 
team  lined  up  for  practice  and  some  of  the  gymnasium 
team  showed  their  skill  in  tumbling  and  pyramid  making. 
Club  swinging,  basketball  and  folk  dancing  represented 
the  athletic  work  of  the  girls.  Miss  Frances  H.  Flagler, 
who  conducted  the  work  from  1892  to  1907,  led  a  drill 
with  the  Indian  clubs.  Miss  Isabel  D.  Fisher,  director 
of  the  girls  from  1907  to  1913,  was  unable  to  be  present. 
Miss  Kate  L.  Austin,  the  present  director,  conducted  a 
folk  dance,  given  by  girls  of  the  High  School  Department. 

[122] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

As  a  final  scene  the  football  team  of  1913  appeared  on 
the  stage  as  if  running  down  the  field  after  a  punt.  The 
opposing  pla3^er  was  tackled,  several  plays  were  executed 
and  a  cheer  for  Adelphi  given  at  the  close.  Then  came  the 
Adelphi  Cheering  Song. 

The  introduction  of  the  annual  "Information 
Test"  has  proved  an  attractive  and  interesting  fea- 
ture. There  is  given  to  the  pupils  a  set  of  questions 
designed  to  show  the  range  of  their  reading  and 
their  familiarity  with  terms  occurring  commonly  in 
books  and  newspapers.  They  prospect,  so  to  speak, 
the  minds  of  the  boys  and  girls  by  running  down 
the  diamond  drill  into  their  apperceptive  basis.  It 
is  a  useful  sort  of  examination,  for  there  is  no  possi- 
bility of  cramming  for  it. 

A  few  of  the  answers  may  be  of  interest  as  they 
contain  rare  and  valuable  information: 

General  William  Booth  noted  for  shooting 
Abraham  Lincoln. 

Define  cynic — Meeting  of  Doctors  for  the  pur- 
pose of  caring  for  the  poor. 

Who  is  the  author  of  Poor  Richard's  Almanac? 
Columbus,  Dickens,  Whittier,  Lincoln,  Brooklyn 
Eagle. 

Upon  what  island  does  the  Liberty  Statue  stand? 
Blackwells  Island. 

Meaning  of  Pacifist?  One  who  travels  on  the 
Pacific  Ocean. 

Meaning  of  Amphibious?    One  who  tells  fibs. 

I  cannot  resist  a  feeling  of  envy — envy  of  the 

[128] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

one  whose  good  fortune  it  shall  be  to  continue 
Adelphi  history  and  to  treat  of  the  present  adminis- 
tration. It  promises  to  be  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting and  successful.  With  unflinching  courage 
and  high  hopes  the  Adelphi  faces  the  future.  She 
is  rich  in  memories,  rich  in  faith,  rich  in  love,  rich 
in  good  works  and  yet  to  be  rich  in  silver  and  gold. 


[  124 


BIOGRAPHY 

Dr.  Eliot  says  that  properly  speaking  there  is 
no  History,  there  is  only  Biography.  When  the 
Adelphi  looks  at  its  record,  names  crowd  each  other 
for  recognition.  Among  the  teachers,  above  all 
other  names  stands  the  name  of  Warren  T.  Web- 
ster, greatly  beloved,  faithful,  and  successful.  His 
twenty-eight  years  of  service  were  as  a  coronet  of 
pearls  to  Brooklyn. 

He  was  born  in  Kingston,  N.  H.,  June  6,  1830, 
and  was  graduated  from  Brown  University  in  1851. 
Possibly  George  William  Curtis  had  him  in  mind 
when  he  said,  ''the  best  bred  men  were  the  Brown 
bred  boys." 

*^On  November  12, 1867,  he  became  an  instructor 
in  the  Adelphi  Academy,  and  in  1869,  when  the 
Academy  was  incorporated,  he  was  made  Profes- 
sor of  the  Greek  and  Latin  Languages. 

"As  a  teacher,  Mr.  Webster  possessed  rare  gifts. 
His  lithe  and  nervous  body  seemed  built  to  respond 
to  an  alert  and  tireless  mind.  He  had  rare  skill 
in  winning  the  love  and  confidence  of  his  pupils, 
while  he  inspired  them  with  a  love  for  their  work. 
This  institution,  for  whose  welfare  he  labored  so 
long  and  so  well,  and  the  generations  of  pupils 
who  remember  him  with  affectionate  regard,  are 
his  lasting  monument." 

We  add  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Corporation 
of  Adelphi  Academy: 

[126] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

"It  is  not  to  his  acquirements,  large  as  they  were, 
neither  to  his  aptness  in  imparting  instruction,  that 
we  must  look  in  seeking  the  real  source  of  his  power 
as  an  educator.  No  one  ever  came  into  Professor 
Webster's  presence,  or  conversed  with  him,  but 
realized  at  once  his  thorough  honesty,  his  transpar- 
ent truthfulness.  There  was  nothing  perfunctory 
about  his  work ;  he  was  wholly  sincere  in  everything 
he  did.  The  boys  and  girls  in  his  classes  knew 
beyond  doubt,  from  the  moment  they  entered,  he 
was  there,  in  loco  parentis,  to  do  them  good.  Their 
failings,  their  temptations,  their  weaknesses,  as  dis- 
closed, were  treated  in  that  tone  of  sincerity  and 
kindness  which  never  fails  to  carry  conviction  and 
hope  with  it.  With  such  earnest  simplicity  of  pur- 
pose, strength  of  character,  power  of  influence, 
which  none  could  ever  mistake  or  question,  he  in- 
spired all  with  a  feeling  of  warm  and  lasting  attach- 
ment, and  led  his  scholars  on,  each  sure  in  the 
regard,  the  true  friendship  of  their  guide  and 
mentor." 

Mr.  Webster  died  in  Brooklyn,  August  3,  1895. 

The  tribute  sent  by  the  Hon.  Charles  H.  Fuller 
cannot  fail  to  be  of  interest : 

In  1871  I  was  in  the  graduating  class  at  Pub- 
lic School  No.  11.  There  were  no  High  Schools 
in  Brooklyn  in  those  days.  In  order  to  commence 
my  preparation  for  college,  I  took  a  course  in  Latin 
at  the  Adelphi  Academy  during  the  winter  of  1871- 
72.    In  the  Fall  of  1872,  I  entered  the  collegiate 

[126] 


JOHN  LOCKWOOD  HOMER  B.  SPRAGUE 


STEPHEN  G.  TAYLOR        ALBERT  C.  PERKLNS  j.  s.  CROMBIE 


CHARLES  H.  LEVERMORE  EUGENE  C.  ALDER 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

department  of  the  Adelphi  and  graduated  in  1874. 
Thus  I  was  under  the  instruction  of  Professor 
Webster  during  three  years. 

As  I  look  over  this  period  of  44  years,  he  comes 
back  to  my  memory  very  distinctly.  A  tall  slender 
man  of  middle  age,  virile  and  vigorous,  quick  and 
nervous  in  manner,  and  extremely  rapid  in  speech 
— so  rapid,  in  fact,  that  it  was  sometimes  difficult 
to  understand  him.  Impulsive  and  quick  tempered, 
loathing  any  of  the  attempts  at  trickery  or  evasion 
to  which  lazy  or  indifferent  scholars  were  prone  to 
resort,  but  on  the  other  hand,  extremely  warm- 
hearted and  sympathetic  and  always  ready  to  aid 
and  encourage  honest  effort.  These  are  the  im- 
pressions of  Professor  Webster  which  remain  in 
my  mind.  I  can  remember  him  as  stern  and  severe 
in  his  rebukes  which  no  doubt  we  often  merited. 
But  I  can  also  remember  him,  as  he  would  look 
when  seated  at  a  scholar's  desk  with  his  arm  around 
the  scholar,  trying  to  help  him  or  her  out  of  some 
classical  quagmire.  He  loved  the  classics  and  his 
enthusiastic  spirit  was  constantly  striving  to  inspire 
us  boys  and  girls  with  some  of  his  own  fine  appre- 
ciation of  the  eloquence  of  Cicero  and  the  beauties 
and  grandeur  of  Virgil  and  Homer.  I  never  had 
a  teacher  who  was  more  sympathetic  than  Pro- 
fessor Webster,  or  one  who  endeavored  more  ear- 
nestly to  transfuse  our  rather  apathetic  minds  with 
his  own  classical  enthusiasm.  He  loved  the  boys 
and  girls  whom  he  taught  and  the  boys  and  girls 

[  127  ] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

loved  him,  and  after  all,  is  not  this  mutual  love, 
the  criterion  of  the  successful  teacher?  And  so, 
after  nearly  half  a  century,  I  am  glad  to  have  this 
opportunity  to  pay  my  tribute  of  love  and  respect 
to  Professor  Webster.  Probably  many  of  the  care- 
less youth  whom  he  taught  may  have  seemed  unre- 
sponsive to  his  loving  efforts.  Doubtless  there  are 
today  many  men  and  women  of  mature  years,  who, 
like  myself,  can  realize  now  the  value  of  his  un- 
selfish and  devoted  life.  It  is  this  abiding  memory 
of  the  faithful  teacher  which  crowns  his  life  work 
with  the  highest  success. 

Charles  H.  Fuller. 

Charles  Jewett  was  born  in  Bath,  Maine,  in  1839, 
and  was  graduated  from  Bowdoin  College  in  1864. 
From  his  Alma  Mater  he  received  the  degrees  of 
B.A.,  M.A.,  and  Sc.D.  From  the  College  of  Phy- 
sicians and  Surgeons  in  New  York  came  the  title 
of  M.D. 

He  taught  at  Adelphi  from  1869-1880.  The 
Secretary  records  that  she  could  always  tell  when 
girls  first  went  into  Dr.  Jewett's  class,  as  they 
usually  came  to  her  room  crying.  Very  soon  they 
came  to  admire  his  strict  and  exact  ways  and  to  be 
proud  of  being  in  his  class. 

Ten  years  after  he  commenced  his  medical  prac- 
tice, he  secured  the  Professorship  of  Gynecology 
in  the  Long  Island  College  Hospital  and  retained 

[128] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

the  position  during  his  life.  He  was  widely  known 
as  a  medical  authority. 

In  the  summer  of  1910,  a  few  hom^s  after  he  had 
performed  a  most  difficult  operation  at  the  Hos- 
pital, his  summons  came  and  his  brilliant  life  work 
was  ended. 

I  doubt  if  any  pupil  whose  good  fortune  it  was 
to  be  under  the  charge  of  Frederick  W.  Osborn  ever 
hears  his  name  without  a  feeling  of  gratitude. 

He  was  Superintendent  of  the  Academy  from 
1873  to  1884.  His  perfect  justice,  his  evenness  of 
temper  and  his  interest  in  each  pupil  made  him  the 
model  superintendent.  Irate  parents  who  "came 
to  scoff,  remained  to  pray."  The  mother  of  a  very 
troublesome  boy  asked  him  why  he  liked  Prof.  Os- 
born so  much  when  he  disciplined  him  so  frequently. 
He  replied,  ''I  admire  him  because  he  doesn't  get 
mad  and  use  bad  grammar." 

As  his  preference  was  for  teaching,  he  returned 
to  it  and  taught  in  the  Academy  and  afterwards  in 
Adelphi  College  until  his  retirement  in  1907. 

When  the  pedagogical  mania  was  at  its  height, 
its  most  zealous  advocate  said:  "Mr.  Osborn  has  the 
best  of  all  methods.  He  will  wait  until  the  pupil 
answers.  In  his  classes  the  teacher  doesn't  do  all 
the  talking." 

At  one  time  a  lady  called  at  the  office  anxious  to 
get  information  on  a  matter  not  widely  known. 
The  Secretary  said,  "Don't  waste  your  time  on  me 
but  find  Mr.  Osborn."     When  she  returned,  she 

[129] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

said,  "I  found  him.  He  is  an  encyclopedia."  A 
woman  who  has  recently  published  a  history  says, 
^'I  owe  very  much  to  Prof.  Osborn,  who  first  inter- 
ested me  in  the  subject." 

For  his  great  learning,  for  his  gentlemanly  qual- 
ities, for  his  skill  as  a  teacher,  for  his  influence  on 
character,  he  will  be  long  remembered. 

Charles  Otis  Gates  was  born  in  Fairfield,  Iowa, 
October  14,  1852.  He  secured  the  degree  of  B.A. 
from  Dartmouth  College  in  1874  and  of  LL.B. 
from  New  York  University  Law  School  in  1885. 

He  taught  at  the  Adelphi  from  1878-1887. 
From  1887-1896  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  and  he  was  a  generous  donor  to  the  Adel- 
phi endowment  fund. 

He  married  Elizabeth  Hoagland,  daughter  of 
Dr.  C.  N.  Hoagland,  and  entered  the  office  of  the 
Royal  Baking  Powder  Company.  He  became 
President  of  that  company,  and  held  the  position 
until  his  greatly  lamented  death,  which  occurred 
May  8,  1906. 

The  Adelphi  has  always  been  strong  in  its  Scien- 
tific Department.  In  1889  it  was  fortunate  in  se- 
curing the  services  of  William  Waldemar  Share. 
Brooklyn  was  his  birthplace.  He  was  graduated 
from  Columbia  University  in  1881,  receiving  from 
his  Alma  Mater  the  degree  of  Ph.D.  in  1884.  He 
brought  to  the  work  thorough  knowledge  of  his 
subject  and  the  advantages  of  high  social  position. 
He  was  exceedingly  popular  with  the  students. 

[130] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

They  will  remember  his  thoroughness,  the  beauty  of 
the  tables  which  he  prepared  and  his  intelligent  in- 
terest in  matters  of  the  day.  In  1896  he  became 
professor  in  Adelphi  College. 

A  beautiful  window  in  the  Collegiate  Building 
perpetuates  the  name  of  John  A.  Sanford. 

Of  the  Academy  staff,  Joseph  Bowden,  Pro- 
fessor of  Mathematics,  Adelbert  G.  Fradenburgh, 
Professor  of  History,  and  Elizabeth  V.  Gaines, 
Professor  of  Biology,  whose  separate  creditable 
records  were  of  six,  seven  and  nine  years,  are  now 
filling  professorships  in  Adelphi  College. 

William  Cranston  Lawton  is  Professor  of  Liter- 
ature at  Hobart  College. 

Charles  A.  Gardiner  is  known  to  the  world  as 
the  counsel  of  the  Interborough  Road  and  to  his 
peers  as  a  man  of  great  ability  and  rare  promise, 
whose  untimely  death  deprived  the  American  Bar 
of  a  brilliant  member.  Henry  Pennypacker  is 
Head  Master  of  the  Boston  Latin  School.  Dr. 
William  G.  Anderson  was  called  from  the  Adelphi 
to  superintend  the  gymnastics  of  Yale  University. 
Lillian  Foster,  '78,  was  for  nine  years  a  devoted 
and  successful  teacher  of  German  at  Adelphi.  She 
died  in  1897.  As  a  token  of  the  affectionate  regard 
which  she  inspired,  a  memorial  to  her  was  placed 
upon  the  walls  of  Adelphi  by  her  pupils  and  fel- 
low-workers. 

So  frequent  are  the  inquiries  for  a  noble  band  of 
women  who  taught  well  and  faithfully  for  many 

[131] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

of  the  early  years  of  the  Adelphi,  that  it  seems 
wise  to  engrave  their  names  here: 

Emily  L.  Birdseye,  Jean  S.  Boggs,  Katharine 
Bryan,  Helen  D.  Hedge,  Charlotte  Rawson. 

The  shortest  term  of  service  was  twenty-seven 
years;  the  longest  forty.  The  other  three  were  of 
thirty- six  years  each.  No  bronze  tablet  commemo- 
rates these  names,  but  on  nimiberless  tablets  more 
lasting,  more  valuable  than  bronze  they  are  written 
in  letters  of  imperishable  light.  Each  one  was  a 
skillful  disciplinarian  and  devoted  to  her  profes- 
sion. 

They  spared  no  expense  of  time  or  effort  that 
they  might  be  of  service  to  the  world  in  the  building 
of  character  and  in  stimulating  interest  in  all  that 
is  noble  and  lasting. 

Miss  Sarah  W.  Horton,  who  taught  here  for 
eight  years,  has  carried  the  name  and  fame  of  Adel- 
phi to  the  Pacific  Coast.  She  founded  a  school  in 
Oakland,  California,  which  holds  high  rank  among 
the  schools  of  the  State. 

Ordelia  A.  Lester  came  to  Adelphi  Academy  in 
1885  as  teacher  of  English  and  remained  twelve 
years.  She  was  a  graduate  of  Oswego  Normal 
College  and  of  Cornell  University.  She  had  the 
most  essential  qualification  for  a  teacher — that  of 
love  for  her  work.  She  had  also  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  her  chosen  subject,  and  was  always  and 
everywhere  a  student. 

As  all  family  ties  were  early  in  her  history  bro- 

[182] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

ken  by  death,  she  gave  a  wealth  of  affection  to  her 
pupils.  She  was  always  at  their  service,  comfort- 
ing those  who  were  in  sorrow,  receiving  their  con- 
fidence and  assisting  in  correction  of  habits  which 
would  mar  their  future  usefulness.  She  entered 
into  the  peace  of  Paradise  February  6,  1912. 

Her  pupils  and  associates  tenderly  honor  her 
memory.  Her  work  on  character  will  last  when  the 
monument  above  her  place  of  rest  shall  have  crum- 
bled to  aboriginal  dust. 

Alice  I.  Kent,  '83,  gave  twenty-eight  years  of 
valuable  service  to  the  Adelphi.  A  very  trouble- 
some boy  said  that  "She  was  the  patientest  teacher 
that  he  had  ever  seen."  She  was  greatly  interested 
in  Nature  Study  and  was  an  occasional  contributor 
to  literature  in  this  her  favorite  line.  The  College 
of  Agriculture  of  Cornell  University  called  special 
attention  to  ^'The  Story  of  a  Terrarium  from  Fall 
until  Spring." 

Emma  Eloise  Foster,  born  in  Coldwater,  Michi- 
gan, in  1863,  came  to  the  Adelphi  in  1892  as  a 
teacher  of  History.  In  1903  she  became  Associate 
Principal.  She  was  quiet,  reserved,  dignified,  al- 
ways and  everywhere  the  lady.  She  was  an  influen- 
tial member  of  the  faculty  and  won  the  respect 
and  affection  of  her  pupils  to  a  remarkable  degree. 
On  May  24,  1913,  after  a  short  and  severe  illness 
she  entered  into  rest.  She  sleeps  her  last  sleep 
among  her  kindred  in  Jackson,  Michigan. 

March  23,  1915,  great  sorrow  came  to  the  Adel- 

[133] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

phi  in  the  death  of  Jeannette  D.  Weeks,  who  was 
one  of  her  best  beloved  teachers.  Miss  Weeks 
measured  up  fully  to  George  Eliot's  definition  of 
a  lady,  as  she  possessed  "the  essential  attributes, 
high  veracity,  delicate  honor,  deference  for  others, 
and  refined  personal  habits."  She  put  such  a 
motived  force  into  the  character  of  her  pupils  that 
they  can  never  lose  it  in  all  their  after  lives.  Its 
memory  they  can  never  escape,  its  stamp  they  can 
never  efface.  The  thought  of  her  name  will  always 
be  followed  by  a  great  wave  of  gratitude  and  love. 
Peace  to  her  memory. 

CHARLOTTE  MORRILL,  1869- 

No  history  of  the  Adelphi  could  be  regarded  as 
complete  which  did  not  include  a  sketch  of  the  life 
and  work  of  Miss  Charlotte  Morrill.  She  has  been 
connected  with  the  institution  for  so  long  a  period 
and  in  such  a  variety  of  ways  that  she  has  become 
a  part  of  it. 

Miss  Morrill  came  to  the  Adelphi  in  1869,  the 
first  year  of  its  corporate  existence  as  an  Academy. 
She  was  appointed  teacher  of  Bookkeeping  to  suc- 
ceed Mr.  P.  F.  Van  Everen.  Very  soon  after  her 
arrival  she  was  asked  to  take  charge  of  the  Acad- 
emy accounts.  For  eight  years  she  figured  in  the 
Catalogue  as  Secretary  and  Assistant  Teacher. 
During  the  greater  part  of  her  connection  with  the 
Adelphi  she  has  acted  under  various  titles  as  As- 

[134] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

sistant  to  the  Treasurer  and  in  that  position  she  is 
probably  best  known  to  the  officers  and  teachers  of 
the  institution.  During  the  administration  of  Dr. 
Levermore  she  was  appointed  Bursar  of  both  the 
College  and  the  Academy  and  discharged  the  duties 
of  that  office  for  thirteen  years.  With  a  view  to 
enlarging  her  usefulness  and  employing  her  varied 
talents,  she  was  made  Lecturer  on  Ethics  for  a 
period  of  three  years,  and  subsequently  Instructor 
in  Education  to  college  students. 

This  is  but  a  meagre  outline  of  a  life  that  has 
been  identified  with  the  whole  history  of  the  Adel- 
phi. It  does  scant  justice  to  a  service  whose  in- 
fluence as  a  vital  force  has  been  felt  in  every  de- 
partment of  the  institution.  Officers,  teachers,  and 
students  alike  have  felt  the  charm  of  her  strong 
personality.  No  occasion  could  be  regarded  as 
complete  which  was  not  dignified  by  her  presence 
and  graced  by  her  wit  and  humor. 

As  Assistant  Treasurer  the  services  of  Miss  Mor- 
rill have  been  invaluable.  Persistently  opposed 
to  all  unnecessary  expenditure,  she  has  carefully 
conserved  the  finances  of  the  institution.  Teachers 
have  been  invited  to  economize  in  the  use  of  sup- 
plies for  the  distribution  of  which  she  was  respon- 
sible. An  apt  story  or  a  pointed  joke  has  often 
helped  to  reconcile  if  not  to  satisfy  the  applicant 
for  some  fanciful  need. 

The  keeping  of  the  records  of  an  institution  is 
a  task  the  value  of  which  is  not  generally  ap- 

[  135  ] 


History  or  Adelphi  Academy 

predated.  In  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of 
this  office  Miss  Morrill  has  not  confined  herself 
to  the  usual  hours  of  the  teacher.  When  it  has 
been  necessary  to  prepare  elaborate  Reports  for 
the  Board  of  Regents  she  has  remained  at  her  post 
in  her  well-known  office  for  weeks  after  officers  and 
teachers  were  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  vacation. 

In  December,  1888,  in  honor  of  her  twenty  years 
of  service,  the  Adelphi  teachers  presented  Miss 
Morrill  with  an  etching  of  Hart's  "Golden  Hour." 

For  several  years  she  rendered  substantial  ser- 
vice to  her  Alma  Mater,  Mount  Holyoke  College, 
as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

In  1904  in  recognition  of  her  valuable  services 
the  College  Faculty  recommended  the  Board  of 
Regents  to  bestow  upon  Miss  Morrill  the  degree 
of  M.A.  The  Board  was  not  in  favor  of  allowing 
young  Colleges  to  give  honorary  degrees.  The 
cause  was  ably  championed  by  one  member,  Dr. 
Charles  A.  Gardiner,  once  an  Adelphi  teacher, 
then  the  Counsel  for  the  Interborough  Road.  Miss 
Morrill's  diploma  bears  the  seals  of  the  University 
of  the  State  of  Xew  York  and  of  Adelphi. 

Her  numerous  friends  sincerely  hope  that  for 
many  years  she  may  retain  her  connection  with  the 
institution  which  she  has  so  long  and  so  faithfully 
served.  Frederick  W.  Osborn. 

The  Adelphi  is  proud  of  her  Alumni  and  proud 
of  her  pride.     Eleven  men  and  one  woman  have 

[136] 


T.  J.  ELLIN  WOOD 


AVON  C.  BURNHAM 


WM.  G.  ANDERSON 


HENRY  S.  PETTIT 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

served  on  the  Board  of  Trustees,  one,  as  President 
for  three  years.    One  is  now  Treasurer. 

The  author  of  the  "Cardinal's  Snuff-box,"  ''Lady 
Paramount,"  "My  Friend  Prospero,"  and  other 
well-known  books,  whose  number  would  have  been 
increased  but  for  his  early  death  (Harry  Harland) , 
was  an  Adelphi  boy. 

Dwight  L.  Elmendorf,  who  annually  comes  to 
entertain  Brooklyn,  always  refers  to  his  Alma 
Mater,  the  Adelphi. 

Three  brothers,  sons  of  Mr.  John  Gibb,  have 
been  separately  the  head  of  one  of  the  leading  stores 
of  Brooklyn.  An  Adelphi  boy,  Edward  Hatch, 
was  at  the  head  of  Lord  and  Taylor. 

It  would  be  pleasant  to  speak  of  every  graduate. 
Looking  down  the  long  corridor  of  time  we  see  the 
name  of  William  C.  Wallace,  member  of  the  thirty- 
second  Congress.  Charles  H.  Fuller  stands  among 
the  leading  men  of  Brooklyn.  Rev.  William  W. 
Davis  is  a  most  acceptable  preacher  at  the  Church 
of  the  Transfiguration  in  New  York.  Charles  M. 
Pratt  and  his  brothers  are  known  everj'^vhere  for 
their  generous  benefactions  to  educational  institu- 
tions and  to  the  city.  Right  Rev.  Sidney  C.  Part- 
ridge exchanged  his  position  as  Bishop  in  charge  of 
Missions  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church  in  Ky- 
oto, Japan,  to  that  of  Bishop  of  Kansas  City  of 
Missouri.  Every  Shakesperian  student  knows  of 
Henry  Clay  Folger's  devotion  to  Shakesperian 
study  and  of  his  valuable  collection  of  the  works 

[137] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

of  the  Bard  of  Avon.  Starr  J.  Murphy  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  legal  staff  of  John  D. 
Rockefeller.  Rudolph  Seldner's  name  is  associated 
with  a  beneficent  charity  of  Brooklyn,  which  he 
founded  in  honor  of  his  mother.  The  name  of 
George  Barlow,  of  '78,  is  perpetuated  at  Adelphi 
by  a  gift  made  by  his  father.  The  Barlow  medal 
has  proved  a  stimulus  to  the  cause  of  education. 
Rev.  John  Brittan  Clark  occupies  most  acceptably 
the  pulpit  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Washington,  D.C.  Adelphi  is  proud  to  write  the 
name  of  Frederick  E.  Crane,  who  is  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Wil- 
liam H.  Corbett  was  known  as  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful business  men  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  Laura 
Winnington  was  the  greatly  prized  private  secre- 
tary of  Dr.  Lyman  Abbott.  She  was  largely  in- 
strumental in  founding  the  Sea  Breeze  Home.  In 
beloved  memory  of  Sarah  C.  Baker,  her  mother 
founded  an  Adelphi  scholarship.  Among  the 
prominent  Librarians  of  the  City  we  find  the  names 
of  Mary  Casamajor,  Mary  E.  Mathews,  Gwen- 
dolen Brown,  Mildred  Stanton,  and  M.  Josephine 
Thackray.  The  Hartford  C  our  ant  characterizes 
Anna  Branch,  '93,  as  the  Mrs.  Browning  of  Amer- 
ica. Certainly  her  published  poems  do  honor  to 
Adelphi.  The  women  in  charge  of  the  magnificent 
library  of  the  late  Pierrepont  Morgan  calls  Mar- 
guerite Lahey  the  leading  book-binder  of  the  world. 
William  Ordway  Partridge  has  become  famous 

[138] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

by  making  what  John  G.  Whittier  called  "graven 
images." 

The  Bacon- Shakespeare  contest  does  not  appeal 
to  us,  as  we  have  a  playwright  of  our  own,  Rebecca 
Hooker  Eastman,  the  authorship  of  whose  plays 
is  not  disputed. 

We  have  clergymen,  editors,  physicians,  lawyers 
and  lecturers  whose  names  command  respect  the 
country  over.  The  Adelphi  is  represented  at  the 
Austrian  Court  by  Alice  Pfizer  Bachoven  von 
Echt.  The  list  of  Standard  Oil  officers  sounds  like 
a  page  from  Adelphi  roll-books.  Sixteen  of  her 
graduates  have  been  greatly  beloved  and  successful 
teachers  in  the  school.  When  Charles  S.  Whitman, 
formerly  an  Adelphi  teacher,  left  the  office  of  Dis- 
trict Attorney  of  New  York  County  to  assume  that 
of  Governor  of  New  York,  Charles  A.  Perkins, 
Class  of  1886,  was  appointed  his  successor.  Adel- 
phi names  are  written  in  bronze  in  our  Academy  of 
Music  and  in  our  Public  Libraries. 

When  the  robes  of  office  in  the  realm  of  Benevo- 
lence worn  by  Mrs.  Darwin  R.  James  fell  from  the 
shoulders  of  their  ascended  wearer,  they  were  taken 
up  by  her  daughter,  Ethel  James  Quin.  She  is 
President  of  the  City  Mission  Society  and  of  the 
Civitas  Club  and  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation. 

Mrs.  Marion  Benedict  Cothren  is  the  only 
woman  lawyer  claimed  by  Adelphi. 

The  only  Adelphi  girl  who  is  entitled  to  write 

[139] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

M.D.  after  her  name  is  Rosalie  H.  Stolz,  '82,  who 
is  a  faithful  and  successful  physician. 

The  vision  of  the  two  stately  houses  on  Lafayette 
avenue  wherein  the  Vernon  brothers  resided  will 
soon  fade  away  but  the  records  will  preserve  the 
names  of  the  ten  who  came  from  these  houses  to 
study  and  graduate  from  the  Adelphi.  Mr. 
Thomas  Vernon  did  much  efficient  work  for  the 
Adelphi.  Mrs.  Vernon  was  the  first  person  to  con- 
tribute toward  the  elevator.  They  rank  among 
Adelphi's  best  friends.  Their  son  Alfred  was  an 
Adelphi  trustee  for  four  years  and  inaugurated  the 
movement  for  decorating  the  walls  of  his  Alma 
Mater.  Mrs.  Isabel  Vernon  Cooke  is  being  widely 
recognized  as  an  artist  of  unusual  ability. 

All  New  Yorkers  feel  pride  in  the  career  of  Dr. 
Michael  Idvarsky  Pupin  of  Columbia  University, 
who  has  made  wonderful  electrical  discoveries  and 
is  rendering  valuable  service  as  Serbian  Consul 
here.  There  are  now  but  few  Adelphians  who  re- 
call the  day  when  Rev.  Dr.  Homer  brought  him 
here  to  begin  fitting  for  College.  Dr.  Pupin  is 
now  President  of  the  New  York  Academy  of 
Science. 

Speaking  of  Presidents,  here  is  the  record  of 
James  F.  Kemp,  '76,  Professor  in  Columbia  Uni- 
versity. Twice  President  of  the  New  York  Acad- 
emy of  Science,  President  of  the  Alumni  of  the 
School  of  Mines,  five  years  President  of  the  Amer- 
ican Institute  of  Mining  Engineers,  President  of 

[  140  ] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

the  Mining  and  Metallurgical  Society.  Incident- 
ally McGill  University  conferred  upon  him  the 
degree  of  LL.D. 

Charles  J.  McDermott,  '85,  has  been  President 
of  the  Crescent  Athletic  Club  and  is  now  President 
of  the  Brooklyn  Bar  Association. 

Clinton  L.  Rossiter  was  for  nine  years  President 
of  the  Apollo  Club.  He  has  recently  been  elected 
Vice-President  of  the  Underwood  Typewriter 
Company. 

William  C.  Atwater,  '79,  holds  the  record  for 
attendance.  In  seven  years  at  Adelphi  he  was 
never  absent  or  tardy.  It  is  superfluous  to  add  that 
he  is  a  successful  business  man. 

The  following  persons,  once  students  in  Adelphi 
Academy,  have  at  different  times  served  on  the 
Board  of  Trustees:  Annie  G.  (Babcock)  Truslow, 
from  1895  to  1913;  Frederick  E.  Crane,  since 
1901;  Edmund  H.  Driggs,  from  1901  to  1904; 
Charles  J.  McDermott,  from  1904  to  1907;  Charles 
M.  Pratt,  from  1887  to  1895;  Clinton  L.  Rossiter, 
since  1896;  Willard  S.  Tuttle,  from  1894  to  1902; 
T.  Alfred  Vernon,  from  1896  to  1900;  Frederic  H. 
Webster,  from  1904  to  1905;  Llewellyn  A.  Wray, 
since  1905;  Edward  T.  Horwill,  since  1910; 
Thomas  L.  Leeming,  since  1911. 

We  are  proud  to  find  that  Adelphi  Academy  was 
represented  in  the  army  during  the  Spanish  War 
by  Eliphalet  H.  Blatchford,  '95;  Edward  N. 
Loomis,  '88;  Irving  A.  Ruland,  '85;  David  G. 

[141] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Simpson,  '95;  Arthur  T.  Southard,  '91;  George 
C.  Harding,  '99. 

Beyond  the  reach  of  statistics  are  scores  of  homes 
wherein  our  boys  and  girls  preside.  Not  until  a 
clearer  light  than  this  world  affords  shines  upon 
their  records  may  we  know  the  length  and  the 
breadth  and  the  height  of  their  benefit  to  the  world. 

During  any  quarter-century  hundreds  of  names 
disappear  from  the  Adelphi  records.  From  1886 
to  1911  there  was  one  name  that  never  failed  to 
appear,  that  of  its  faithful  custodian,  John  G. 
Ewing.  No  member  of  the  Adelphi  family  of  that 
time  will  fail  to  recall  him  or  to  remember  that  he 
possessed  the  typical  Scotch  qualities  of  honesty 
and  industry  to  a  remarkable  degree.  He  was  pos- 
sessed of  much  skill  and  frequently  assisted  in  the 
manufacture  of  intricate  pieces  of  school  apparatus. 

In  his  well-earned  rest  he  is  followed  by  the 
esteem  and  affection  of  hundreds  of  his  Adelphi 
friends. 


UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF    NEW-YORK    BY   THE 
REGENTS    OF    THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE    STATE    OF 

NEW-YORK 

Whereas,  William  S.  Woodward  and  others,  by  an  in- 
strument in  writing  under  their  hands,  bearing  date  the 
twenty-ninth  day  of  July  in  the  year  1869,  after  stating 
that  they  had  contributed  more  than  one  half  in  value 
of  the  real  and  personal  property  and  estate  collected 

[142] 


JOHN  G.  EWING 


AFTER  FIRE,  1889 


CHAPEL  AFTER   FIRE,   1889 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

or  appropriated  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  Academy 
erected  at  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  in  the  county  of  Kings, 
did  make  application  to  us  the  said  Regents,  in  the  form 
and  manner  required  by  law,  and  the  ordinances  of  us  the 
said  Regents  in  that  behalf,  that  the  said  Academy  might 
be  incorporated  by  the  name  of  The  Adelphi  Academy  of 
Brooklyn,  and  that  William  I.  Budington,  Joseph  T.  Dur- 
yea,  Charles  W.  Homer,  David  Moore,  Charles  Pratt, 
John  French,  Spencer  D.  C.  Van  Bokkelen,  Henry  W. 
Slocum,  George  G.  Reynolds,  Buckley  T.  Benton,  Joseph 
C.  Hutchison,  Enos  N.  Taft,  John  Davol,  Charles  E. 
Hill,  Charles  E.  Evans,  William  S.  Woodward,  Edwin 
Beers,  Alfred  C.  Barnes,  Harold  Dollner,  John  B.  Norris, 
Horace  D.  Wade,  Wm.  C.  Dunton,  Lindon  W.  Saltonstall, 
&  Edw'd  F.  DeSelding  might  be  the  first  Trustees  of  the 
said  Academy,  and  it  having  been  made  to  appear  to  our 
satisfaction,  that  the  said  Academy  is  endowed  with  suit- 
able academic  buildings,  library  and  philosophical  ap- 
paratus of  the  value  of  at  least  Two  thousand  ^ve  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  conceiving  the  said  Academy  calculated 
for  the  promotion  of  Literature,  WE  the  said  Regents  do, 
by  these  presents,  pursuant  to  the  Statute  in  such  case 
made  and  provided,  signify  our  approbation  of  the  in- 
corporation of  the  Trustees  of  the  said  Academy,  by  the 
aforesaid  name  of 

THE  ADELPHI  ACADEMY  OF  BROOKLYN 

and  that  the  same  shall  be  subject  to  the  visitation  of  us 
and  of  our  successors,  as  provided  by  law.  ON  CONDI- 
TION, however,  that  the  said  endowment  shall  never  be 
diminished  in  value  below  Two  thousand  five  hundred  dol- 
lars, and  that  the  same  shall  never  be  applied  to  pur- 
poses  other  than   for  public   academic   instruction,   sub- 

[143] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

ject  also  to  the  ordinance  of  the  said  Regents  as  to  the 
debts  of  Academies  passed  January  15,  1857. 

IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  we  have  caused  our  com- 
mon seal  to  be  hereunto  affixed,  and  the 
names  of  our  Chancellor  and  Secretary  to 
be  hereunto  subscribed,  the  third  day  of 
August,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  sixty-nine. 

(Signed)     John  N.  L.  Pruyn, 

CHANCELLOR. 

(Signed)     S.  B.  Woolworth, 

SECRETARY. 


U4J 


ADDENDA 
THE  CHARLES  PRATT  ENDOWMENT 

In  1886  Mr.  Charles  Pratt  gave  one  hundred  and 
sixty  thousand  dollars  for  the  erection  of  an  addi- 
tional building,  combining  the  best  surroundings, 
light,  warmth  and  pure  air  that  could  be  obtained 
for  the  students,  upon  the  conditions: 

That  it  should  be  the  aim  of  the  Institution  to 
provide  improved  apparatus  and  appliances  for 
teaching,  and  to  employ  a  sufficient  nimaber  of 
the  best  instructors  with  adequate  salaries,  and 
that  the  total  number  and  the  age  of  pupils  should 
be  limited  to  correspond  with  the  carrying  out  of 
this  ideal,  and  further,  that  when  this  result  should 
be  accomplished,  and  the  annual  surplus  revenue 
of  the  school  in  any  year  should  equal  or  exceed  five 
thousand  dollars,  then  each  year  in  which  the  sur- 
plus revenue  equals  or  exceeds  the  said  amount,  at 
least  five  thousand  dollars  should  be  set  apart 
towards  forming  a  permanent  fund,  equal  to  the 
sum  donated,  the  income  of  which  should,  as  soon 
as  sufficient,  be  applied  to  the  support  of  a  Depart- 
ment of  Physical  Education  and  the  Laws  of 
Health. 

This  fund  was  accepted  on  the  conditions  pro- 
posed. 


[145] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  OF  ADELPHI 
ACADEMY  FROM  1869-1913 

Rev.  William  Ives  Budington 1869-74 

Charles   Pratt    1874-91 

Charles  M.  Pratt 1891-94 

Edward  F.  de  Selding  (acting) 1894-95 

Timothy  L.   Woodruff 1895-08 

James  H.   Post 1908- 


TREASURERS  OF  ADELPHI  ACADEMY 

Charles  Pratt    August-October,  1869 

Harold  Dollner   1869-72 

and    1875-86 

Edwin  Beers 1872-73 

Edgar  W.   Crowell 1873-75 

John  Gibb    1886-93 

Hayden  W.  Wheeler 1893-04 

Clinton  L.  Rossiter 1904- 


SECRETARIES  OF   THE    BOARD   OF   TRUSTEES   OF 
ADELPHI  ACADEMY 

Alfred  C.  Barnes 1869-1874 

Edward  F.   deSelding   (Acting)  .  .  .  1873-1874 

Edward  F.  deSelding 1874-1895 

Willard  S.  Tuttle 1896-1902 

Frederick  E.   Crane 1902-1905 

Charles  J.  McDermott 1905-1907 

Herbert  K.  Twitchell 1907- 

[146] 


HAROLD  DOLLNER 


EDWIN  BEERS 


*-,- 


EDGAR  W.  CROWELL 


JOHN  GIBB 


HAYDEN  W.  WHEELER 


CLINTON  L.  ROSSITER 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

PRINCIPALS  OF  ADELPHI  ACADEMY 

John   Lockwood    1863-70 

Died  December  24,   1901 

Homer  B.  Sprague 1870-75 

Stephen  G.  Taylor    1875-83 

Died  March  21,  1884 
Albert  C.  Perkins    1883-92 

Died  September  22,  1896 

John  S.  Crombie 1892-93 

Died  April  16,  1893 

Charles  H.  Levermore 1893-09 

Eugene  C.  Alder 1909- 

SUPERINTENDENTS    OF   ADELPHI 
ACADEMY 

Collegiate  Department 

Warren  T.  Webster   1870-94 

Died  August  3,  1895 

Academic  Department 
Horace  H.  Howe  (Sub-Collegiate)    1899-09 

Elementary  Department 

Washington   Choate    1870-73 

Frederick  W.  Osborn    1873-84 

Arthur  C.  Wadsworth    1884-94 

Ernest  N.  Henderson   1902-06 

Edwin  C.  Broome   1906-09 

Preparatory  Department 

Maria  A.  Leggett  (Died  May  24,  1891) 1869-91 

Hattie  E.   Hunt 1884-90 

Supervisor 
Edna   Pateman    1890- 

[147] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

FREE  SCHOLARSHIPS 

September  28,  1874,  the  trustees  established  ten 
free  scholarships,  exclusive  of  the  children  of  in- 
structors in  the  Adelphi  Academy.  They  voted 
also  that  the  children  of  resident  clergy  officiating 
in  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  of  teachers  in  the  Poly- 
technic and  Packer  Institutes,  be  admitted  at  half 
the  rates  of  tuition.  October  19,  1874,  this  was 
conceded  to  include  also  children  of  principals  of 
Public  Schools  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn. 

September  18,  1876,  six  scholarships  were  of- 
fered to  the  Public  Grammar  Schools  of  Brook- 
lyn. Subsequently  they  were  changed  to  five  and 
given  to  the  graduates  of  the  Central  Grammar 
School. 

December  15,  1879:  "As  a  token  of  the  high 
esteem  in  which  Harold  Dollner  is  held  by  his  as- 
sociates in  the  Board,  and  in  further  recognition  of 
their  appreciation  of  his  interest  in  and  his  devotion 
to  and  of  the  value  of  his  services  on  behalf  of  the 
Adelphi  Academy,  one  of  the  ten  scholarships  shall 
be  known  and  designated  as  the  Dollner  Scholar- 
ship." 

After  that,  scholarships  were  named  as  follows: 
Charles  Pratt  Scholarship,  Hayden  W.  Wheeler 
Scholarship,  E.  F.  deSelding  Scholarship,  William 
S.  Woodward  Scholarship. 


[148] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

PRIZES 

By  gift  from  Mr.  Charles  Pratt  in  1884,  the  in- 
come of  $1,000  is  applied  annually  to  prizes  for  im- 
provement in  penmanship.  The  same  benefactor 
also  established  a  fund  of  $1,000  in  1890  to  encour- 
age good  reading  and  elocution.  Its  income  is  ap- 
plied to  awards  for  those  who  have  made  the  most 
improvement  during  the  year  and  also  to  the  pro- 
viding of  new  matter  for  supplementary  reading. 

In  December,  1897,  by  the  will  of  Mr.  George 
Barlow,  a  fund  of  $5,000  was  given  to  the  Adelphi. 
It  was  to  be  called  the  George  Francis  Barlow 
Fund,  in  memory  of  the  donor's  son,  who  was 
graduated  from  the  Academy  at  the  head  of  his 
class  in  1878.  A  portion  of  this  is  devoted  to  the 
maintenance  of  the  George  Francis  Barlow  Medal 
or  Medals  (not  more  than  three  in  number)  given 
for  high  rank  in  scholarship. 

The  medal  of  the  Alliance  Fran9aise  is  offered 
annually  to  that  student  in  the  third  or  fourth  year 
of  the  Academy,  who  has  shown,  during  the  year, 
the  greatest  proficiency  in  the  study  of  the  French 
language  and  literature. 

Prizes  are  awarded  annually  in  the  department 
of  physical  education  for  all-round  physical  ex- 
cellence. There  are  four  classes  of  awards:  but- 
tons, bronze,  silver  and  gold  medals. 

Each  class  is  represented  by  twelve  exercises  or 
events — athletic,  gymnastic  or  acrobatic — requiring 

{149] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

skill,  agility,  strength  and  endurance.  No  one  can 
win  the  prize  in  any  class  without  successfully  com- 
pleting each  and  every  event  in  the  class  in  ques- 
tion. The  pupil  soon  completes  the  events  in  which 
he  is  strong,  and,  in  order  to  win  the  prize,  must 
practice  patiently  and  persistently  the  events  in 
which  he  is  weak.  So  he  is  won  to  health  and  sym- 
metry by  developing  the  weaker  parts  of  the  body 
— for  "a  chain  is  no  stronger  than  its  weakest  link." 

Membership  in  teams  that  represent  the  Acad- 
emy creditably  is  recognized  by  an  award  of  the 
letters  "A.  A."  and  by  such  other  tokens  as  may  be 
agreed  upon  by  the  Faculty  Athletic  Committee 
and  the  Alumni  Advisory  Committee,  or  by  their 
representatives  in  conference  at  the  end  of  each 
season. 

By  the  will  of  Miss  Freda  M.  Brunn,  Class  of 
'88,  the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  was  given  to 
Adelphi  College  to  be  used  in  maintaining  a  de- 
partment of  either  cooking  or  sewing  in  connection 
with  either  the  collegiate  or  the  academic  courses. 
After  the  termination  of  a  certain  trust-fund 
created  by  the  will,  another  sum  of  five  thousand 
dollars  is  to  be  added  to  the  aforesaid  bequest. 

Principal                         Year  Pupils    Graduates 

John  Lockwood 1864  28 

"             "            1865  61 

"             "            1866  156 

"             "            1867  304 

[150] 


< 

< 

(^ 

Q 
< 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 


Principal                         Year 

Pupils 

Graduates 

John   Lockwood 1868 

482 

Incorporated 

U                       (C 

. ..    1869 

469 

«                 a 

..    1870 

497 

Homer   B.    Sprague.  . 

..    1871 

264 

1 

((            (i               a 

. .    1872 

552 

5 

66                  £(                      i6 

..    1873 

572 

7 

«                  ii                      ii 

..    1874 

546 

8 

«                  ii                      ii 

..    1875 

573 

22 

Stephen   G.    Taylor.  . 

..    1876 

592 

17 

a             i 

.  . 

..    1877 

538 

19 

ii             i 

.  . 

..    1878 

539 

16 

a            i 

..    1879 

578 

16 

a            i 

..    1880 

625 

11 

a            i 

.  . 

. .    1881 

738 

4 

ii            i 

.  . 

. .    1882 

825 

12 

a            ii            a 

. .    1883 

921 

15 

Albert   C.    Perkins  .  .  . 

..    1884 

931 

12 

((         ii           ii 

..    1885 

936 

23 

«           ((               a 

..    1886 

945 

20 

«           6i              ii 

..    1887 

889 

12 

«(           a              a 

..    1888 

870 

28 

«           ((               ii 

..    1889 

978 

23 

«           «               ii 

..    1890 

1,041 

28 

((           «               ii 

..    1891 

1,126 

28 

66               «                    ii 

. .    1892 

1,094 

20 

John   S.   Crombie .... 

. .    1893 

1,032 

25 

Charles  H.  Levermore 

..    1894 

942 

23 

ii         ii             ii 

..    1895 

965 

23 

ii           a                 a 

..    1896 

903 

16 

a           a                 ii 

. .    1897 

982 

33 

a           a                 ii 

. .    1898 

969 

18 

ii           ii                 ii 

. .    1899 

918 

39 

ii           ii 

iC 

..    1900 

837 

24 

[151] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 


Principal 

Year 

Pupils 

Graduates 

Charles  H. 

Levermore.  . 

1901 

788 

30 

((                6i 

1902 

795 

55 

ii           a 

1903 

845 

59 

6i                ii 

1904 

767 

34 

6i               ii 

1905 

784 

39 

ii                ii 

1906 

756 

37 

ii                ii 

1907 

743 

38 

ii                ii 

1908 

723 

38 

ii                ii 

.   1909 

679 

40 

Eugene   C. 

Alder 

1910 

649 

40 

ii         ii 

a 

1911 

635 

35 

ii         ii 

ii 

1912 

601 

29 

ii         ii 

a 

1913 

639 

37 

ii           a 

ii 

1914 

683 

40 

U               (( 

ii 

1915 

696 

45 

1,144 

Boys 

Girls 

.    436 

.    708 

1,144 


PRESIDENTS  OF  ASSOCIATE  ALUMNAE 

1895-1897.  Caroline  D.    Camp 

1897-1899.  Mabel  L.  Hastings  (Mrs.  John  Humpstone) 

1899-1901.  Alice  L.  Morse 

1901-1903.  Minerva  Bon  (deceased) 

1903-1905.  Alice  Pfizer  (Baroness  Alice  Bachofen  von 

Echt) 

1905-1907.  Jenny  I.  Pfeiffer  (Mrs.  Harold  Nomer) 

1907-1909.  Jessie  Ogg 

1909-1911.  Amy  C.  Romer  (Mrs.  Alfred  D.  Snyder) 

1911-1913.  S.  Edith  Wilkinson 

1913-1915.  Ella  McDermott  (Mrs.  Charles  R.  Hebard) 

1915.  Jessie  Righter  (resigned) 

1915.  Elisabeth  Shaw 

[152] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

names  of  teachers  whose  terms  of  service 

exceeded  three  years  and  of  those 

in  service  in  1914 

d — dead  m — (only  after  names  of  ladies)  married 

Names  Date  Remarks 

Abernethy,  Julian  W. .  1881-92 
Anderson,  Henry  S..  1886-92 
Anderson,  William  G..  1884-92 

Arquit,    Mary 1890-95      d.,  m.  Herman  Chapin 

Auel,  Pauline  M 1903-07      m.  Walter  I.  Volckens 

Austin,  Sara  J 1885-95      m.  Charles  Snow 

Averill,  Mary  J 1871-79 

Axson,  Stocton 1896-99 

Ayer,  Jennie  J 1899- 

Bellows,  Fred  E 1886-92 

Bennett,  Emma  M.  .  .1908-11       m.  W.  L.  Bennett,  Jr. 

Benoliel,    Sol.   D 1897-1901 

Biederman,  Ella  F .  .  .  1912- 
Birdseye,  Emily  L...  1871-98      d. 

Blau,  Max  F 1898-03 

Boggs,  Jean  S 1872-08 

Both-Hendriksen, 

Louise 1894-03 

Boyle,  F.  T.  L 1872-75 

Bowden,   Joseph    1898-03  and  1905-06 

Brandt,  Wilhelmina  S.1900-11       m.  Gordon  F.  Hull 
Brewer,  John  Hyatt..  1899-06 

Briggs,   Jennie   1871-75       d. 

Brown,   Delwin   F 1878-95       d. 

Brunn,    Freda    M 1897-07       d. 

Buckingham,  Elinor 

M 1894-00 

Burnham,  Avon   C...  1875-77  and  1881-84 
Bryan,  Katharine    .  .  .1871-06 

[153] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 


Names  Date 

Camp,  Isobel 1869-71 

Chandler,   Jane   W...  1869-77 

Charvet,  Louise 1896-05 

Clay,   Nellie   H 1891-95 

Cleaveland,  Cornelia. .  1883-86 
Common,  Vera  M.  .  .  .1911- 

Conner,    Adah   B 1912 

Cuddy,  Louise  J 1890-94 

Cuenod,   Marguerite.  .  1907-13 
Cuevas,  Rosalia  del  P.1902- 
Davis,  William  W.  Jr..l 882-85 

Deacon,  Emily  V 1910- 

DeRougemont,  Amede.  1879-95 

Dietrich,  Marie  C 1890-95 

Doring,  Jessie   1906-12 

Dougall,  J.  Bernard.  .1912- 

Doyle,  Thomas  L 1877-81 

Dunn,  William  A 1899-01 

Dunning,  Matilda  M. .  1882-95 
Eastman,  Susan  L.  .  .1898-05 
Edwards,  William  A..  1889-97 
Ellinwood,  Truman  J..  1869-75 

Elsmore,  Annie    1913- 

Estes,  J.  Agnes 1895-02 

Evans,  Margaret  M.  .1903-07 
Farnam,  Ellen  Nobk  .  1900-07 
Fisher,  Edward  T.  .  .  .1870-79 
Fischer,  Isabel  Dix. .  .1907-13 
Flagler,   Frances   K..  1892-07 

Foster,   Emma   E 1892-13 

Foster,  Lillian    1888-97 

Fradcnburgh,  Adel- 

bert  G 1896-03 

Freyburger,   Ernst    ..1910- 

1154] 


Remarks 
and  1875-85 
d. 


m.  R.  G.  Hanford 


m.  John  Hormby 


d. 


m.  Benj.  Watson 


m.  Arthur  A.  Reimer 

d. 

m.  John  M.  Tuggey 


d. 
d. 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Names  Date  Remarks 

Gaines,  Elizabeth  V..  1894-03 

Gates,   Charles    O 1878-87      d. 

Goldsmith,    Theodora.  1901- 

Graj,  Harriet    1912- 

Greelej,  M.  Elizabeth.1877-83 
Hale,   Gertrude   M.  .  .1898-1904 
Harlow,   Louise   D...  1885-95 

Harvey,   Anna   E 1893-1912 

Hasbrouck,   Isaac  E..  1884-89 

Hajden,   Stella    1869-77      d. 

Hedge,  Helen  D 1871-1911 

Hedge,  Louise  J 1889-94 

Hedges,    Carolyn    E..1885- 
Heuermann,  Helen  F..  1902-09 

Hill,  Clara  S 1898-05 

Hobson,  George  P.  F.. 1893-98 

Holt,   Walter   V 1885-96 

Hooper,  Franklin  W..  1880-89      d. 
Horton,    Sarah   W...  1873-82 

Howe,   Horace   H 1899- 

Hunt,  Hattie  E 1881-91 

Hunter,  Myra  1 1911-14 

Huyssoon,    Peter    V..  1878-87 

Hyde,   Justus   C 1901-08 

Jacobus,  George    ....  1909- 
Jennings,   Jessie   F...  1892-95 

Jewett,  Charles    1869-74       d. 

Jewett,  Edmund  G.  .  .1912- 
Johnson,  Lloyd  W.  .  .1907- 
Joralemon,  Eugene    ..1904-11 
Keep,  Arthur  Baxter .  1898-02 

Kelton,  Mary  E 1897-10 

Kennerly,  Martha  M. .  1899-03 
Kent,  Alice  1 1885-12      d. 

[  155  ] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 


Names 

Date 

Remarks 

Kent,  Henrietta  B . 

..1890-98 

Kibbe,  Caroline  S .  . 

. . 1895-04 

Kuck,  Ethelwjn  G. 

. . 1905-12 

m.  Albert  C.  Smalley 

Latham,  Burton  F. 

..1912- 

Lawton,  William  C. 

. . 1895-03 

Leggett,  Estelle  .  .  . 

. . 1891-96 

d. ;  m.  Dr.  HaUock  R. 
Maine 

Leggett,  Maria  A.  . 

..1869-91 

d. 

Lester,  Ordelia  A.  . 

.  .  1884-97 

d. 

Lewis,  Ashburton  S..  1875-1914 

Locke,  L.  Leland 1902-08 

Lowe,   Sidney  D 1904-09 

Macfarlane,  William 

P 1895-1913 

Mackay,  Irene 1912-15 

Matruchot,  Marie   .  .  .  1888-91 

Mattern,  Roy  B 1897-02 

May,  Max  E 1910-14 

Miller,  Mabel 1898-05 

Minor,  Edith  S 1908- 

Morrill,  Charlotte   .  .  .1869- 

Morse,  Anna  Ger- 
trude   1902- 

Nason,  Alice  L 1902-06      m.  George  B.  Cooper 

Nelson,  Theodore,  Jr..l907-10 

O'Rourke,  Mary  S...1911- 

Osborn,  Frederick  W. .  1872-1903 

Parker,  Helen  C 1901- 

Parsons,  Lena  F 1906-12       m.  Edward  W.  Merrill 

Pay  son,  M.  K 1869-73 

Pateman,  Edna    1884- 

Peckham,  William  C.  .1875-1904 

Pennypacker,  Henry   .1888-91 

Pettit,  Henry   S 1892- 

[156] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 


Names 

Date 

Remarks 

Prall,  Rosa  J 

.  .  .  1874-89 

m. 

F.  J.  Elster 

Rawson,  Charlotte 

.  .  1870-06 

Reiner,  Anna  M .  . 

. . 1898-03 

Rice,  Edward  D .  . 

. . 1869-73 

Robinson,  Mrs.  Cor 

- 

nelia  S 

. . 1888- 

Roethgen,  N.  Louise..  1898- 

Rogers,  Cornelia 

H.  B 

...1891-96 

d. 

Rose,  Julius  T .  .  . 

..1892-1900 

Sanborn,  Sarah  P. 

..1869-73 

m. 

Joseph  B.  Gage ;  d. 

Sanford,   John   A. 

. . 1897-03 

d. 

Scharff,  Violette  E 

. . 1895-04 

Schneider,  Wm.  S. 

..1908-12 

Scott,   Herbert    W 

..1907- 

Scott,  Loulie  A .  .  . 

..1912- 

Seelye,  Burt   P.  .  . 

..1891-96 

Servoss,  Annie  K. 

..1896-01 

m. 

Harry  F.  Pardee 

Share,   William   W 

.  .  1889-96 

Shaw,  Mary  E.  .  . 

..1869-72 

m. 

Jared  Brewster 

Shields,  J.  Frank. 

.  .1893-97 

Smith,  Annie  C.  .  . 

.  .1873-80 

Stannard,  J.  Ellis . 

..1907-12 

Southard,  Alma   .  . 

..1909-15 

m. 

Wilbur  F.  Preston 

Tanner,  Edwin  P. 

..1904-07 

Thayer,  William  A 

..1906- 

Tooker,  Ida  F 

..1884-88 

m. 

M.  Lloyd 

True,  R.  S 

.  .  1876-79 

Uhrich,  Irvin  J.  .  . 

. . 1902-09 

Upton,   Margaret 

..1875-85 

Vandercook,  Mrs.  '^ 

L. 

Elizabeth    

..1892-96 

d. 

Vandercook,  J.  Will 

is.  1881-85 

d. 

VanWinkle,  Hattie 

A.  1875-80 

[157] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Names  Date  Remarks 

Vimont,  Laura  L 1904-10 

Volentine,  Mrs.  T.  J.  .1898-02 
Wadsworth,  Arthur 

C 1883-94 

Walker,  Jeannette  .  .  .  1886-94      m.  Charles  Kaysen 
Waters,  Mrs.  Helen 

M 1888-95 

Watt,  Mrs.  Sally  C.  .1913- 
Webster,  Warren  T.  .1869-95       d. 
Weeks,  Jeannette  D.  .1885-12      d. 
Westbrook,  Mrs.  F. 

A 1896-00 

Whitman,  Charles  S .  .  1891-94 

Whitney,  Ida  H 1889-93      m.  William  Fernald 

Whittaker,  John  B .  .  .  1875- 
Whittaker,  Mrs.  John 

B 1883-1914 

Willis,  Lettie  A 1889-94 

Wood,  Mrs.  Grace  R.1912- 

Woodruff,  Ruth  D.  .  .1901-04      m.  Alfred  H.  Perrin 

Worman,  Emma  P.  .  .1879-83      d. 

Worman,  James  H.  .  .1878-83 

Wykes,  Adaline  G 1895-02 

Wykes,  Mary  E 1889-96   m.  Dr.  R.  W.  Westbrook 

Yerex,  James  W 1904-09 

Yoran,  Mary  A 1911- 

Zick,  Henry 1892-98 

First  Building 


Architects,  Mundell  and  Teckritz;  builders,  Henry 
Taney  and  Baker,  Smith  &  Co. ;  date  of  opening,  Febru- 
ary 4,  1868. 

[  158  ] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

West  Wing 

Architects,  Mundell  and  Teckritz;  builders,  S.  and  W. 
C.  Booth,  J.  Locke  and  Son  and  Baker,  Smith  &  Co, ; 
date  of  opening,  September  23,  1871. 

East  Wing 

Architect,  E.  L.  Roberts ;  builders,  F.  D.  Norris  and 
Enoch  Rutzler;  date  of  opening,  June  14,  1879. 

Collegiate  Building 

Architect,  Charles  C.  Haight;  builder,  L.  W.  Seaman, 
Jr.;  date  of  opening,  February  18,  1889. 

New  Chapel  and  Fourth  Floor  on  Lafayette  Avenue 

Architect,  William  B.  Tubby;  builder,  L.  W.  Seaman, 
Jr. ;  date  of  opening,  November  3,  1890. 

ORDER  OF  THE  DAY 

1868-9 

Preliminary   Assembly — Ten   Bells. 
General  Assembly — Five  Bells. 
Prayers — One  Bell. 
Inspection. 
Recitations  begin. 

Grade  Recesses  of  Forty  Minutes.f 

Recitations  conclude. 

Delinquents'  Session. 

During  November,  December,  January,  February  and 
March  school  will  begin  and  close  half  an  hour  later. 
A  Delinquents'  Session  is  held  on  Saturday  also. 

♦The  Preparatory  Grades  assemble  thirty  minutes  later  than 
this,  the  year  round. 

fThe  Preparatory  and  Intermediate  Grades  have  other  rests. 

[  159  ] 


8.15 

o'clock* 

8.25 

8.30 

8.55 

9.00 

11.00) 

1.00  J 

2.00 

2.00] 

2.30 

History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

From  the  large  number  of  Adelphi  songs  we  select  two 
HAIL,  ADELPHI 
Hail,  Adelphi!  now  we  cheer  thee, 

We,  thy  children,  thronging  near  thee. 
Ever  loyal,  shout  and  sing, 

Adelphi,  live  for  aye! 
Skies  of  hope  are  bending  o'er  us, 

High  ambitions  rise  before  us, 
Loud  and  long  thy  praises  ring, 

Adelphi,  live  for  aye! 
Thine  the  richest  treasure. 

Years  of  youthful  pleasure, 
Joy  no  day  can  take  away 

Thou  givest  without  measure; 
Now  thy  banner  proudly  bearing. 

We  march  forth  in  honor  sharing, 
While  thy  colors  we  are  wearing. 

Brown  and  gold  for  aye! 

We  will  give  thee  in  this  hour 

Praise  and  glory  for  the  power 
Thou  hast  granted  for  a  dower 

To  the  Brown  and  Gold. 
We,  thy  ways  of  wisdom  learning. 

Keep  our  zeal  forever  burning. 
And  for  strength  to  thee  are  turning 

As  in  days  of  old ! 
We'll  forget  thee  never. 

Though  our  paths  may  sever; 
Alma  Mater  in  our  hearts 

Will  find  her  place  forever! 
As  her  children  thronging  near  her 

Let  us  sound  her  praise  and  cheer  her; 
And  in  chorus  shout  and  sing, 

"Adelphi,  live  for  aye!" 

C.  S.  Robinson. 

[160] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

FIELD  SONG 

We're  from  a  school  of  great  renown,  Adelphi  is  its  name ; 
We've  got  a  team  you  cannot  down,  they're  out  to  win  the 

game. 
We're  here   to   see   the   fun   begin,   we'll   stay   until   it's 

through. 
And  cheer  and  sing  until  the  din  is  heard  in  Kalamazoo. 

(Chorus) 

Cheer  for  Adelphi ! 
Wave  banners  high, 
Strive  hard  for  victory. 
Never  say  die! 
Shoulder  to  shoulder. 
Strong  hearts  within. 
Fight  for  Adelphi, 
We're  bound  to  win! 

Now  anyone  who  thinks  that  we  are  not  just  what  we 

claim. 
Had  better  join  the  crowd  and  see  Adelphi  play  the  game. 
Just  watch  the  boys   in  Brown  and  Gold,  go   smashing 

through  the  line. 
Did  you  ever  see  a  team  so  bold,  or  a  sight  that's  half  so 
fine? 

(Chorus) 

W.  A.  Thayer. 


[161 J 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

I  remember  that  George  Barlow  of  '78,  whose 
name  is  perpetuated  here  by  his  father's  generous 
gift,  once  asked  me  to  collect  the  class  mottoes.  1 
find  that  they  commenced  in  1875  and  were  discon- 
tinued in  1892. 


1875 

"Animo  et  Constantia'* 

1876 

"Fortiter,  Fideliter,  Feliciter" 

1877 

^'^CxtSc" 

1878 

"nKw/xev" 

1879 

"ev^vw/Dov" 

1880 

"'Act  KLv-qrois" 

1881 

"Ad  Astra  per  Aspera" 

1882 

"In  Omnia  parati" 

1883 

'^'Ael  5vo)" 

1884 

"Ma%at" 

1885 

*^ovx  "^l^^po.  avev  ypafifi^^** 

1886 

"cTTt  a/cpa" 

1887 

"In  omnia  paratur" 

1888 

"Fidelitas" 

1889 

"Esse  quam  videri" 

1890 

"Fortiter,  Fideliter,  Feliciter'* 

1891 

'^Ipyots" 

1892 

"Sursum  Corda" 

ADELPHI  ACADEMY  CHEERS 

The  history  of  the  origin  of  the  Adelphi  Cheers 
is  obscured  by  the  mists  of  time.  I  find  that  '91 
gave  us : 

Kraza — Kraza — Ki — ti — mun 
Bricka — Bracka — boom — a — la — ka 
Hira — Kracha — boom — a — la — ka 
Bricka — Bracka — boom — a — la — ka 

[  163  ] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Ernest  B.  Humpstone  brought  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania: 

Oskj — Wow!  Wow! 
Wisky — Wow !  Wow  I 
Holy— Makel— Ei ! 
Kentucky — Ei ! 
Adelphi  I 

Weego  !  Weego  !  Weego — Wy ! 

(Spell)  A-D-E-L-P-H-I 
Weegs  !  Weego  !  Weego  !  Weego,  Wy  ! 

(Spell)  A-D-E-L-P-H-I  ! 

Boom-a-lacka !       Boom-a-lacka ! 

Rah  !     Rah  !     Rah  ! 
Chick-a-lacka !     Chick-a-lacka ! 

Chow !     Chow !     Chow  ! 
Boom-a-lacka !     Chick-a-lacka ! 

Rah!     Rah!     Rah! 
Adelphi !     Adelphi ! 

Siss  !     Boom  !     Ah  ! 

Adelphi  (spoken  softly  three  times) 
Adelphi  (spoken  louder  three  times) 
ADELPHI  (cheer  three  times). 

Whistle — Boom!      (Name)!     Adelphi! 

(Spell)    T-E-A-M     Yay !     Team!   (repeat   three  times) 

(Spell  slowly)    A-D-E-L-P-H-I— Adelphi ! 


[168] 


History  of  Adelphi  Academy 

Dr.  W.  G.  Anderson  sends  these  as  belonging  to 
1891: 

Rah,   rah,  rah !     Rah,  rah,  rah ! 
Didi,  didi,  delphi 
Sis,  boom,  ah ! 

Ching,  ching,   ching! 
Chow,  chow,  chow! 
Bully  for  Adelphi! 
Bow,  wow,  wow ! 

Breka  ko  ax,  ko  ax,  ko  ax ! 
Breka  ko  ax,  ko  ax,  ko  ax! 
Hoorah,  hoorah,  parabalu! 
Adelphi ! 


''And  here  I  make  an  end.  If  I  have 
done  well  and  as  is  fitting  the  story  it  is 
that  which  I  desired,  but  if  slenderly  and 
meanly  it  is  that  which  I  could  attain 
unto." 


I  164  J 


INDEX 


Alder,   Eugene   C,    115. 
Alumni  Trustees,   136,   137. 
Anderson,  Wm.  G.,  82,   122, 

131. 
Art   Department   Equipment, 

83. 
Atwater,  Wm.  C,   141. 
Austin,  Kate  L.,  122. 

Baker,  Sarah  C,  138. 
Barlow    Medal,    138. 
Barnes,  A.  S.,  17,  29. 
Beecher,    Henry    Ward,    22, 

30,  48,  69. 
Benedict,  Marion,   139. 
Birdseye,  Emily  L.,  132. 
Black-Book,  41. 
Blizzard,   91. 
Boggs,  Jean,  182. 
Bowden,  Joseph,   131. 
Boyle,  F.  T.  L.,  83. 
Branch,  Anna  H.,  138. 
Broome,  Edwin  C,  112. 
Brown,  Delwin  F.,  84. 
Brown,   Gwendolen,    138. 
Brunn,  Freda  M.,  5,  150. 
Bryan,    Katharine,    132. 
Budington,  Wm.   G.,  22,  28. 
Buildings,    47,    92,    94,    158. 
Burnham,  Avon  C,  82,   122. 
Business  Course,   118. 
Byers,  Mortimer  S.,   121. 

Carriages,  119. 
Casamajor,  Mary,   138. 
Charter,  24. 
Cheers,  162. 


Clark,  John  Brittan,  138. 
Class  advisors.  111. 
Class  mottoes,   162. 
College,  111. 
Colors,  5,  91. 
Co-education,  47. 
Commercial  Department,  42. 
Corbett,  Wm.  H.,   138. 
Corner  stone,  30. 
Crane,   Frederic   E.,    5,    138, 

141. 
Crombie,    John    S.,    99,    101, 

102. 

Davis,    Rev.    Wm.    W.,    72, 

137. 
Dollner,  Harold,  17,  48,  90. 
Domestic  Science,  118. 
Dramatic  Association,   119. 

Ellinwood,  T.  J.,  15,  20,  45, 

122. 
Elmendorf,   Dwight   L.,   137. 
Ewing,  Jolm  G.,   142. 

Farr,  Mabel,  92. 
Field,  110. 
Fire,  6,  74,  84,  92. 
First  Exhibition,   121. 
Flagler,  Frances  H.,  122. 
Folger,  Henry  C,  72,  137. 
Football  Record,  119,  120. 
Foster,  Emma  E.,  133. 
Foster,  Lillian,  131. 
Fradenburgh,  A.  G.,  131. 
Fuller,  Charles  H.,  126,  128, 
137. 


[165] 


Index 


Gaines,  Elizabetli  V.,  131. 
Gardiner,    Charles    A.,    131, 

136. 
Gates,  Charles  O.,  80,  130. 
Glee  Club,  119. 
Graduates   (List),   151. 
Greeley,  Horace,  22. 
Gymnasium,  95. 

Half-yearly  promotions.  111. 
Harland,  Harry,   137. 
Harvey,  Anna  E.,   109. 
Hatch,  Edward,  137. 
Hedge,  Helen  D.,  132. 
Henderson,  E.  N.,  112. 
High   Schools   open,   92. 
Hooper,   Franklin   W.,   81. 
Hooper,  Rebecca  L.,  139. 
Horton,    Sarah    W.,    132. 
Howe,  Horace  H.,  111. 

Information    Test,    123. 

Jackson's  Hollow,  47. 

James,  Ethel,  139. 

Jewett,  Charles,  41,  81,   128. 

Keep,    Austin     B.,    Teacher, 

'98,  '02. 
Kemp,  James  F.,  140. 
Kent,  Alice  I.,  133. 
Kindergarten,  93. 

Lahey,  Marguerite,   138. 
Lectures,  59,  60,  82. 
Leggett,  Maria  A.,  41,  95, 
Lester,  Ordelia  A.,   132. 
Levermore,  Charles  H.,   103. 
Lewis,  A.  S.,  82,  122. 


Library,  59,  81,  85,  92. 
Lock  wood,  John,   11,   13,  40, 
49. 

McClave,  S.  Wood,  Jr.,  119. 
McDermott,  Charles  J.,  141. 
Manual  Training,  111. 
Matthews,  Mary  E.,  138. 
Morrill,  Charlotte,  9,   134. 
Motto,  47. 
Murphy,  Starr  J.,  72,  138. 

Order  of  Day  (1868-9),  159. 
Osborn,    Frederick    W.,    78, 
129,  136. 

Partridge,  Sidney  C,  137. 

Partridge,  Wm.  O.,  72,   138. 

Peckham,  Wm.  C,  79. 

Pennypacker,  Henry,  131. 

Perkins,  Albert  C,  87,  89. 

Perkins,    Charles    A.,    139. 

Pettit,  Henry  S.,  120. 

Pfizer,  Alice  M.,   139. 

Plan  of  Organization,  19. 

Pratt,  Charles,  17,  72,  145, 
95. 

Pratt,  Charles  Endowment, 
29,   145. 

Presidents  of  Associate  Alum- 
nae,   162. 

Presidents  of  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, 146. 

Principals  of  Academy,   147. 

Prizes,  43,  66,  68,  149. 

Pupin,  Michael  I.,  140. 

Rawson,  Charlotte,   132. 
Rewards,  48. 


[166] 


Index 


Rockefeller,  John  D.,  105. 
Roll  of  Merit,  42. 
Rossiter,   Clinton   h.,    141. 

Sanford,  John  A.,  131. 
Scholarships,  61,   148. 
Scudder,  Doremus,  72,  73. 
Secretaries      of      Board      of 

Trustees,  146. 
Seldner,  Rudolph,  138. 
Share,  Wm.  W.,  130. 
Song  Books,  106. 
Songs,   160. 

Spanish  War  Soldiers,   141. 
Sprague,  Homer  B.,   51,   55, 

69. 
Stanton,  Mildred,  138. 
Stolz,  Rosalie  H.,  140. 
Superintendents,    147. 

Table  of  Pupils  and  Gradu- 
ates, 150. 
Taft,  Enos  N.,  23,  29,  70. 
Taylor,  Stephen  G.,  75. 
Teachers,    153. 


Thackray,       M.       Josephine, 

138. 
Treasurers   of   the   Academy, 

146. 
True,  R.  S.,  85. 

Van    Everen,    Philip    F.,    41, 

134. 
Vernon,  Thomas,  17,  23. 
Vernon  (family  of  Thomas), 

29,   140. 

Wadsworth,  Arthur  C,  89. 
Wallace,  William  C,  137. 
Webster,  Warren  T.,  40,  63, 

111,  125,  126. 
Weeks,  Jeannette  D.,  134. 
Wheeler,     Hayden     W.,     93, 

112. 
Whitman,  Charles  S.,  139. 
Whittaker,  John   B.,  83. 
Winnington,  Laura,  5,  138. 
Woodruff,    Timothy    L.,    105. 
Woodward,   Wm.   S.,   24,   29, 

142, 


[167  J 


Robert  R utter  &  Son,  Inc. 
New  York 


ft 

mm 


